Hammerman bludgeons wife to death as kids watch

A 35-year-old unemployed man was arrested for allegedly bludgeoning his wife to death at their house in Govindashetty Colony.

Police said Yousuf Jaffar murdered Rizwana Begum, 30, in the presence of their two sons, aged seven years and eight months, on Wednesday night. After repeatedly hitting her on the head with a hammer and killing her, Jaffar locked himself up through the night with his two children.

The incident came to light around 8 am on Thursday when the older child informed his aunt. She along with others rushed to Jaffer’s house, but the man prevented them from entering. He was soon overpowered, and those who entered the house found Begum’s body in a pool of blood.

A neighbour, Asif, 40, who tried to help the couple’s relatives enter the house was also attacked with the hammer. He sustained minor injuries. According to the older child, his parents had picked up a fight around 10.30 pm on Wednesday, which resulted in the alleged uxoricide.

Neighbours claimed that Jaffer had been mentally unstable, and used to roam around with the hammer and a screwdriver. A diploma holder in telecommunications, he was earlier employed in Saudi Arabia. Police, however, refuted the neighbours’ claim that he was mentally unsound. He was not subjected to a medical test.

It has been learnt that his mother had been helping them financially. She used often broker peace between the duo.