Mangalorean shot dead in Saudi Arabia

P A Hameed Padubidri, Saudi Arabia
Daijiworld Media Network

Qatif (KSA), Mar 19: In a bizarre incident, Mohammed Siraj, aged 26, a Mangalorean, was brutally murdered at Qatif, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday March 16. Though he was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, he was declared dead in the hospital.

The body was taken to Dammam Central Hospital after completion of the 'mahajar' of the death spot (Qarar-al-Taqsheer) by the Qatif region police and was kept in the Hospital mortuary, pending execution of all necessary formalities. It is said that the accused, who is a Saudi hailing from the same region, voluntarily surrendered himself to the police.

Mohammed Siraj hails from a poor family at Kuppepadavu (Acharijora) in Mangalore taluk of Dakshina Kannada. He was working as a house driver for his Saudi sponsor in Qatif.

The motive behind the murder is still unclear. However, according to some sources, it is learnt that after finishing his duty at night, Siraj was walking through a farm house (Mazrah) on the outskirts of the town, which is a mile away from his room, when the accused is said to have taken his personal gun and instantaneously shot at his head, killing him on the spot. After gunning down Siraj, the accused surrendered himself in the police station.

Unlike the procedures in some countries, confession to the commission of any crime made before the police is admissible in the Court of Law in the Kingdom as per the Saudi Criminal Procedure Code based on the Shariah Rule. If the guilt is proved beyond reasonable doubt in the Shariah Court, then the accused will be convicted and sentenced to death with the final approval from the Court of Cassation (Final Court of Appeal) unless pardoned by the close relatives of the victim.

It has been informed to Daijiworld that the deceased has been in the Kingdom for the past six months, working as a house driver. He was among the five children of Mohammed and Zubaida from Kuppepadavu. The deceased was the youngest son. He is survived by his wife, two minor sons, parents, three sisters and a brother.

The mortal remains have been kept in the morgue of the central hospital in Dammam awaiting further formalities and procedures. It will take a few days for the hospital to hand over the body to the relatives in anticipation of paperworks from the different departments in the region. His sponsor, who was said to be away from the Kingdom, returned immediately upon receiving news of the death.

The members of IFF Dammam-Khobar units and others are actively involved in getting the process of the formalities and other works done in this regard.