Udupi murders: Police to probe if Chowgale targeted only Ainaz

NT Correspondent

Mangaluru (K'taka): Was Praveen Chowgale, the accused in the murder of four members of a family in Udupi, overly possessive about his young colleague Ainaz, who was his real target during the fatal attack last Sunday?

Police are attempting to find the real motive behind the crime as they are not considering all the claims made during his confessional statement.

During interrogation, Chowgale (39) has admitted to committing the crime on his own and that he targeted Ainaz (21), who worked with him as a cabin crew of the Air India Express and with whom he had a deep personal connection.

It is suspected that unrequited love could be one of the reasons behind the brutal murder. He told the police that other members of the family were attacked when they tried to prevent him.

Police also suspect that the three others in the family were murdered to destroy evidence. Only Ainaz's grandmother Hajira (70) survived the attack with serious injuries.

She is now undergoing treatment at a hospital. Police are yet to get any clue about the 'intimate' relationship between Chowgale, who is married, and the young air hostess.

The 'jilted love' angle and link between them over financial deals are being probed, sources said. During questioning, the accused has also stated he had gone to the house of Ainaz with a definite plan to kill her.

Investigators will also ascertain his claims of having worked with the Maharashtra police for some time before joining Air India Express. The accused, who belongs to Sangli in Maharashtra, worked at the Mangaluru International Airport.

He worked with Ainaz as a crew member of AIE and reportedly developed a relationship with her. Ainaz's mother Haseena (46), sister Afnan (23) and brother Aseem (12) were also killed in the attack. Her father Mohammed Noor has been working abroad for the last several years.