Asif Mohammad | The Malda Murders

In June of 2021, police got a phone call from someone who introduced himself as Arif Mohammad. What Arif told police next was a story that made headlines.

On February 28 of the same year, a Friday night, Arif and his family were having dinner. The family consisted of the father Jawad Ali (50), mother Ira Bibi (45), sister Arifa Khatun (17), grandmother Alekjan Bibi (75) and his younger brother Asif Mohammad. Everything was going great until they got to the drinks. Arif said that after the family had all felt drowsy. When this happened the younger brother Asif had suggested that they take photos. Then he led each family member to the place that he was planning to take the pictures. and one by one, each family member disappeared. Arif remembered Asif telling him to follow him and then Asif led his older brother to a tunnel that he had dug himself. Asif had made him lie inside a wooden structure he had constructed. Arif expected Asif to take pictures of him, but to his surprise, Asif instead pulled out duct tape and attempted to gag Arif with it. Caught off guard but not completely, Arif pushes his younger brother off of him and barely escapes. Over the next four months Arif moved from Malda to Kolkata, all while being harassed and threatened by his brother. Finally, in June, Arif found the courage and told police the whole story. Asif has been drowning the members with the pretext of taking their pictures. More than Rs 2 lakh (about $2600) was stolen from the dad’s bank account when Asif was finally found and charged. The motive of the murders was money. Asia’s trial has yet to be held.