Thane Mass Murder: Police Consider Split Personality Angle

Police suspect that the accused who killed 14 family members before hanging himself might have had a mental condition

Police at the scene of the massacre in Thane, Maharashtra. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ANI)

Investigators probing the Thane massacre are burning midnight oil to explore the possibility of killer Hasnain Warekar suffering from a ‘split personality’ disorder that might have driven him to slaughter 14 members of his family.

A senior police officer, who is a member of the probe team, said that they are trying to put together all the pieces of the puzzle to figure out the behavioural pattern of the 35-year-old accused. Investigators are also taking the help of several mental health experts and criminologists to arrive at a conclusion as to what led the accused to execute the mass murders, and whether he was a victim of a split or multiple personality disorder.

During searches at his house, certain medications pointing to psychological symptoms/illness were recovered, which the officer said is likely to give some leads into Hasnain’s state of mind before the macabre killings. Now, police are trying to locate the pharmacist from where the medicines were procured, and the doctor who prescribed them.

According to police, locals remember Hasnain as a good-natured and religious man. However, his dark side came to light on Sunday when he mercilessly butchered 14 of his family members and then took his own life after a weekend feast.

In the last couple of days, the police team have been recording statements from Hasnain’s relatives and friends, including the caretaker of the Pardesi Baba Darghah (also known as Durgha Hazrat Gaji Salauddin Shah Baba) which Hasnain used to visit often. Police are also probing the black magic angle to ascertain whether he was influenced by any such practice, or followed any self-styled godman.

When contacted in this regard however, the caretaker refused to make any comments. Police had also learnt from neighbours that Hasnain used to slaughter goats for a ‘kurbani’ (sacrifice) ritual and therefore knew how to use the butcher’s knife that was used in the crime.

A police official from Kasarwadavali station said they had collected the blood and nail samples of the lone survivor of the incident, Subiya Barmar. Among those killed in the shocking incident were Hasnain’s parents, wife, sisters and children. The accused slit their throats with a knife after offering them drinks laced with sedatives at the family house in Kasarvadawali area on the outskirts of Thane, and then committed suicide by hanging himself.

Also read: Massacre in Thane, Man Kills 14 Family Members and Commits Suicide