Shocked, Javed’s neighbours don’t buy cops’ theory

‘‘We found nothing suspicious about Javed or his family members. Their visitors also looked normal. They had just come to live here and they were still getting acquainted with other residents,’’ adds his wife. Javed and his family had moved in two months ago from the nearby Laxmi township.

Joemon Thomas, another neighbour, says the flat belonged to Javed’s brother-in-law, Javed Inamdar. ‘‘The Inamdars had bought the flat about five years ago. They stayed for four years before shifting to Laxmi Township.’’ The flat was then rented out to a Keralite. After he shifted, Javed moved in, Thomas said. Police have now sealed the flat.

The neighbours believe that Javed, who worked as an electrician, was going through a financial crisis. But store owner Sanjay Agarwal, from where Javed used to buy his stationery, did not notice anything amiss in the way the family behaved. However, residents of the society say the Javeds left a week before the encounter happened. ‘‘We thought they were on a vacation,’’ they said.

At Laxmi Township, a lone security guard stood guard at the entrance. ‘‘No Javed Shaikh or Pranesh Kumar Pillai lives here. You may check with the list of the flat owners,’’ he said.