Rajeswari, the mother of the law student who was murdered by a migrant labourer at Perumbavoor on April 28, 2016, visited the house of Nimisha on Monday

Thampi, an autorickshaw driver, after hearing about his daughter’s death

KOCHI: In a cold-blooded murder , a migrant labourer killed an undergraduate student Nimisha Thampi (21), of Anthinattu house, by slitting her throat at Edathikkadu near Aluva around 9.30am on Monday.Biju Mulla (32), a native of West Bengal, was arrested in connection with the murder.The incident occurred when the girl, a second-year degree student of MES College at Marampally near Aluva, reportedly resisted the attempt of Mulla to snatch her grandmother’s gold chain.Police said only Nimisha and her grandmother Mariamma (83) were at home when the incident occurred. Her father A V Thampi, an autorickshaw driver, and mother Salomi, an employee of an industrial unit nearby, were away from home for work.“Mulla, who was an employee of a nearby factory unit, entered the house and reached kitchen where the grandmother was cooking. The accused apparently demanded money from the grandmother. The elderly woman refused and raised an alarm. The accused then tried to snatch the chain of the elderly. Hearing this, the girl rushed to the kitchen. In the melee, the accused slit the throat of the victim using a knife,” said a senior police officer. Hearing Nimisha’s screams, her paternal uncle Elias, living next door, came to their rescue. But Mulla stabbed him and fled the scene. Elias suffered injuries on forearm while defending the accused. He was admitted to Rajagiri Hospital and underwent surgeries to mend the vein, which was cut in the attack.Though Nimisha was rushed to a hospital nearby, she was declared brought dead.Later, residents who came to know about the incident went in search of Mulla and found him hiding on the premises of a real-estate project in the area.According to residents, the accused had been working with the factory unit for the past three years. He had been engaged by a contractor, who has undertaken loading and unloading works in the factory.A teashop owner near the area said that Mulla had a minor scuffle with him a couple of days ago. “He came to the shop and had tea. After taking a few sips, he dropped the glass and asked for another cup of tea. Then, I got angry and we had a verbal exchange with each other,” said Abdul Khader, a teashop owner.Mulla confessed the crime to the police. Many houses have been rented out to migrant labourers, who are working with industrial units, in the area.Thampi’s old house, which is adjacent to the house where the family is living, also has been rented out to migrant workers.Rajeswari, mother of Jisha of Perumbavoor, who was murdered by a migrant labourer, visited the house. Meanwhile, police took 26 people into custody on charges of allegedly attacking the factory unit, where the accused was an employee. Later, police released all of them.According to factory employees, the contractor had dismissed the accused two days ago for coming drunk to work.Fearing assault by residents, many migrant workers left Edathikkadu and neighbouring Vazhakkulam and Chembaracky areas.Mulla was produced in the Kakkanad principal sessions court and remanded for 14 days.