Police have arrested Mohammad Farooq and Mohammad Habil.
A case of honour killing has come to light in Ahmedabad, where police have arrested 22-year-old Sofia’s father, Mohammed Farooq, and brother, Mohammed Habil, for murdering her.
According to police, the two suspected that Sofia was in a relationship with a young man and plotted her murder. As part of the plan, they first struck her on the head with a hammer and then attempted to make the killing appear to be a hit-and-run accident.
Sofia’s body found on road on August 12
Sofia’s body was found on the road on August 12, with her motorcycle lying nearby. Farooq and Habil initially told police that Sofia was travelling on a motorcycle with Habil that night when an unidentified vehicle hit them. They claimed that both suffered serious injuries in the accident and that Sofia later died.
Traffic police initially treated it as accident
The incident was initially considered a road accident by the traffic police. However, the case was subsequently investigated in detail. After about a month, the investigation reportedly uncovered the alleged murder conspiracy.
Sophia worked at a hospital. Police also found the motorcycle on the road.
No evidence found at alleged accident site
According to police, Sofia was a receptionist at Niki Hospital in the Bapol area. On the night of August 12, her brother Habil was taking her on his motorcycle. He had claimed that an unidentified vehicle hit them on the way.
During the investigation, police found several contradictions in Habil’s statement. No evidence of an accident was found at the spot where he claimed the incident had occurred. CCTV footage also showed no other vehicle at the location.
Police then questioned Habil further. During interrogation, it emerged that he had allegedly murdered Sofia along with his father, Farooq.
Family feared social humiliation after video went viral
Police stated that a video of Sofia with a young man had gone viral some time ago, leading the family to fear social humiliation. Her father and brother had tried to counsel her, while both suspected that she was in a relationship with someone else.
According to the police investigation, Farooq and Habil had planned Sofia’s murder about three months earlier. They chose August 12 because it was raining that day.
The two selected the route Sofia used to travel to work. According to police, the route had few CCTV cameras and remained dark, which they believed would help them avoid detection.
Took Sofia on bike and attacked her with hammer
As part of the alleged conspiracy, Habil and Farooq travelled by motorcycle to the hospital where Sofia worked. While returning from Bapol, they took Sofia with them on the bike. Habil was carrying a hammer.
On the way, Habil allegedly turned onto a deserted dirt road near Geljipura village and struck his sister on the head three times with the hammer.
The father and son then brought Sofia’s body back to the main road and damaged the motorcycle to make it appear that a high-speed collision had taken place.
Habil subsequently informed police and claimed that a speeding vehicle had hit their motorcycle from behind near the Geljipura intersection. He alleged that the collision caused serious head injuries to Sofia and minor injuries to him.
According to police, Habil first struck Sofia on the head with the hammer. After she lost consciousness, he knocked her off the motorcycle and hit her twice more on the head. Police said the father and son remained at the spot until Sofia stopped breathing.
Body dumped by roadside, motorcycle damaged
After Sofia’s death, the two allegedly dumped her body by the roadside. According to police, Habil injured himself and also damaged the motorcycle to create the impression that he and Sofia had been involved in a road accident.
