In a shocking turn of events in Kozhikode, Kerala, Mujeeb Rahman, a known criminal with a long history of law violations, has been arrested for the murder of Anu K. The victim, who was merely looking for a ride, fell into a trap that ended with her being robbed of her gold ornaments and ultimately losing her life in a cruel manner. The Police Chief, Aravind Sukumar, detailed how the case was cracked, leading to Rahman's apprehension and the subsequent retrieval of the stolen items.

The Perambra police, after days filled with doubt and speculation, have unveiled the mystery behind the death of a 26-year-old woman, whose body was discovered in a stream near the Nochad primary health centre. Initially deemed a possible suicide, the narrative took a drastic turn as the investigation deepened.

Mujeeb Rahman, a 49-year-old from Kondotty with a dubious distinction of being involved in approximately 60 criminal cases, emerged as the prime suspect. Known for his habitual criminal activities, Rahman's capture marks a significant breakthrough in the case.

The deceased, identified as Anu Prajil, daughter of Vasu, residing near Perambra, was found under mysterious circumstances on March 12. The early hypothesis of suicide was questioned by her grieving family, who pointed out the disappearance of Anu's valuable gold ornaments and the improbability of drowning in the shallow waters of the stream.

Rahman's apprehension on Saturday shed light on the grim details of the crime. As per police reports, he drowned Anu in the stream, not merely content with stealing her possessions. In a related development, Aboobacker, another resident of Kondotty, was arrested for aiding Rahman in disposing of the stolen gold.

This case has stirred the local community and raised concerns about public safety and the ease with which habitual offenders operate.

As per the police, on March 11, Anu embarked from her parents' home in Valoor, aiming to visit a hospital. Her husband, Prajil Raj, a native of Iringannur, was scheduled to meet her en route at Muliyangal.

The case took a grim turn when District Police Chief of Kozhikode Rural, Aravind Sukumar, detailed the involvement of Mujeeb Rahman in this heinous act. Rahman, who was on a stolen motorcycle, spotted Anu as she hastened along the road, presumably to meet her husband. Sensing an opportunity, Rahman offered her a lift, an offer that led to tragic consequences.

Sukumar recounted the events leading to Anu's death with chilling clarity. "When they reached a nearby stream, he stopped saying he wanted to urinate and when she got down from the vehicle, he pushed her into the stream, dragged her down the culvert, kept her head down in the waters and killed her. He escaped with her golden bracelet, chain, anklet and rings," he stated. This recount not only highlights the premeditated nature of Rahman's actions but also the cold-blooded execution of his plan.

Adding to the narrative, Perambra Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) K M Biju elaborated on Rahman's criminal background. “Mujeeb is known to offer lifts to women and snatch their chains. On the morning of March 11, he was fleeing on a motorcycle he stole from Mattanur when he spotted Anu on the way. He approached her, spoke to her and offered a lift to the next junction,” Biju explained. This statement emphasizes Rahman's modus operandi and his predatory behavior towards unsuspecting victims. Importantly, Biju noted that the victim and the accused did not previously know each other, underscoring the random nature of the encounter and its tragic end.

"Later, Mujeeb took Anu to the stream and drowned her. He looted her jewellery and fled," Biju, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, stated. This grim revelation underscores the calculated brutality of Mujeeb Rahman's actions and the heartless robbery that compounded the tragedy of Anu's death.

The discovery of Anu's body in a canal by local residents on Tuesday afternoon raised immediate concerns among the police, especially given the conspicuous absence of her ornaments and the insufficient depth of water in the stream to suggest drowning as a cause of death. The investigative team's suspicion grew when they learned from a resident's statement that Anu was last seen riding on a motorcycle with an unfamiliar man. The critical turning point in the investigation came with the autopsy report, which revealed "pressure marks on her body, following his attempts to restrain her and there was mud in her airways which pointed to pressing her head in the streambed," according to Sukumar, the District Police Chief. These findings were pivotal, providing concrete evidence that Anu's death was not an accident but a murder, with Mujeeb Rahman emerging as the prime suspect.

An exhaustive review of CCTV footage from the vicinity where Anu was last seen became instrumental in piecing together the events of that fateful day. A motorcycle, seen heading towards Ulliyeri at around 10 am, became a significant clue. Through the diligent examination of over 100 CCTV feeds, the police were able to trace the motorcycle back to Noufal, a resident of Mattannur, who had reported his bike stolen on the morning of March 11. This lead bolstered the police's theory about the sequence of events leading to Anu's murder.

The breakthrough came when the police devised a strategy focusing on individuals with a history of similar crimes. "We prepared a list of criminals who followed the MO of gold thefts and those who were released recently from jail and Rahman became our prime suspect," Sukumar explained. Despite the initial challenge posed by the helmet-wearing rider in the CCTV visuals, a collaborative effort between the cyber cell and Malappuram police led to Rahman's capture in a joint operation.

Notably, Mujeeb Rahman was already known to the authorities, being the first accused in the Mutheri sexual abuse case. The similarities between that case and the murder of Anu K were instrumental in directing the investigation towards him, ultimately unveiling the connection and leading to his apprehension.

In September 2022, a grave incident occurred, known as the Mutheri sexual abuse case, involving an elderly woman. While she was on her way to work, she experienced an unimaginable ordeal. "An elderly woman, who was on her way to work was taken into a stolen auto, tied her hands and feet, raped her and then stole her jewellery." This case is but one instance in a series of crimes attributed to Mujeeb, who has a notorious criminal record. His criminal activities are not limited to a single pattern but encompass a broad spectrum of offenses. Mujeeb is known to wander through various districts' interiors, engaging in vehicle theft and extortion. His criminal network extends to known associates, including "vehicle thief Veerappan Raheem." In a shocking display of audacity, he even resorted to using a fake number plate during his crimes.

On the same day, the 65-year-old was assaulted for the second time when he tried to grab a woman's necklace but failed. His spree of theft and violence was not confined to this one instance, as evident from his actions while living in Chevarambalam, Kozhikode, where he committed another robbery. In December 2019, a woman fell victim to his predatory behavior at Thalapuzha station, from whom he stole jewelry.

Turning to a more recent and heart-wrenching story, Anu and Prajil, a couple who had been married for just a year, faced tragedy. Anu had been staying at her parents' home, as her mother recently underwent surgery. On a day like any other, Prajil set out to Muliyangal to pick her up, a meeting that would never occur. "Anu never arrived." Concerned by her absence, her relatives filed a missing person report when she did not return home by the evening.

The search for Anu led to a grim discovery the following day, March 12, when her body was found in a stream. The moment of identification by Anu's relatives was filled with mixed emotions; relief at finding her mingled with despair at her loss. "Anu’s relatives identified the body, but her mother Saraswathy said though Anu’s earring was found on the body, her necklace, two rings, bracelet and anklets were missing." In a subsequent development, the police recovered Anu’s phone and purse from a ditch near the stream, pieces of her life left behind in the wake of this tragedy.

The conclusion of the investigation into Anu K's tragic demise sheds light on the meticulous efforts by the authorities and the lengths to which Mujeeb Rahman went to avoid responsibility for his actions. The postmortem examination played a critical role in determining the cause of Anu's death, revealing that the fatal condition was due to mud and water found in her lungs, indicating she was alive at the time of being submerged, which led to drowning. Following this discovery, a forensic surgeon from Kozhikode Medical College Hospital undertook a thorough examination of the site where Anu’s body was discovered, aiming to gather further insights into the circumstances of her death.

In a bid to elude capture, Rahman abandoned the motorcycle, helmet, and jacket he used on the day of the crime at Edavannappara in Malappuram. His desperation became even more evident when he resorted to violence against law enforcement officers. Upon their arrival at his residence in Kondotty for investigation, Rahman attempted to assault the policemen, resulting in one officer sustaining injuries from a piece of glass.

Despite Rahman's attempts to disrupt the investigation, the police achieved significant breakthroughs. They successfully recovered the ornaments Rahman had stolen from Anu and sold with assistance from a friend in Malappuram. This friend was also apprehended by the police. It was revealed through the course of the investigation that Rahman had stolen a total of 5.5 sovereigns of gold from Anu, a quantification of the material loss in this tragic event.

This narrative, closely aligned with the factual information provided, chronicles the diligent efforts of law enforcement to piece together the events leading to Anu's untimely demise. The recovery of Anu's stolen items and the apprehension of Rahman's accomplice underscore the police's commitment to achieving justice for Anu, highlighting the tragic consequences of criminal actions on victims and their families.