Couple's killers nabbed, baby rescued

BANGALORE: Beneditt Paul Raj, the one-year-old daughter of Paul Raj and Sameena, was rescued by the police on Sunday. Paul and Sameena were hacked to death by Sameena's family on Wednesday night.Two of the killers, including Sameena's father Waheed Khan and brother Asgar, were arrested in a house in Hoskote, while another brother, Zakir, is yet to be nabbed.Little Beneditt, the horrific experience behind her, is now in the safe custody of the police.She is being temporarily sheltered at the SOS Village for children. ``Paul Raj's mother has refused to take custody of the little one fearing a backlash from Waheed Khan's family,'' Police Commissioner H.T. Sangliana told reporters on Monday.``The girl has thus become an orphan. She cannot be handed over to the Khan family. She cannot live in the shadow of her parents' killers. Now, it is the duty of generous Bangaloreans to take care of this orphan,'' Sangliana said.Sangliana asked the police team headed by DCP (East) U. Nissar Ahmed and Inspector Mir Arif Ali to donate their reward money of Rs 25,000 for Beneditt's future. ``This money will be kept in her name in a fixed deposit. Other contributions will also be deposited in the same account,'' Sangliana said. ``We will make permanent arrangements for her after seeing how the public responds. Somebody can adopt the child legally after proving their credentials.'' Sameena married Paul Raj in a Velankanni shrine three years ago against the wishes of her family. Later, they registered the marriage before the registrar, under the Christian Marriage Act.Irked by this, Sameena's family had threatened to kill Paul Raj. They had been forcing him to either leave Sameena or become a Muslim. Sameena had complained to the city police in March 2000 against her brother Zakir, but no action was taken. ``If action had been taken then, the murders could have been prevented,'' Sangliana admitted.The couple had changed three houses to escape Sameena's angry father and brothers, who finally caught up with them last Wednesday. They were brutally hacked at their house in Jeevanbima Nagar. The killers had fled with Beneditt. Their escape car had overturned near Varthur lake, and villagers had caught one person, Sameer, and handed him over to the police. This led the police to the whereabouts of the other accused.Contributions in the form of cash/DD/cheque can be sent to `Beneditt Paul Raj', c/o Police Commissioner, No 1, Infantry Road, Bangalore - 560001.