JEDDAH, 12 November 2006 — Investigations in the case of the stabbing of an Indian worker in Jeddah on Oct. 31 have reached a dead end after police eliminated all suspects in the vicious murder that shocked residents of the city’s Kilo 3 neighborhood.
A police officer assigned to the case, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “We have eliminated all the main suspects. We have no suspects but a large investigation is under way in search of the killer.”
The prime suspect, who was arrested in the area with bloodstains on his clothes, was found innocent after DNA tests showed that the bloodstains did not match that of the victim. Two other suspects arrested were also eliminated from the inquiries, said the officer.
The slain Indian was identified as Biran Koya, 40, who worked at the Al-Hanan stationery shop. Koya was stabbed 17 times in broad daylight at his work place located in the Al-Rajhi residential complex at Kilo 3 on the Old Makkah Road.
The father of three died on the spot because of internal injuries, said police. Preliminary police reports suggested that Koya was killed in a robbery and was stabbed when he tried to fight off his attacker. Two Indian children found his body shortly after noon prayers.
Police have not ruled out that the victim may have known his attacker. A number of friends and family members of the victim have been interrogated.
