Cops probe whether Thane mass murderer had 'split personality'

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 on Thursday that they are trying to put together all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to figure out the behavioural pattern of the 35-year-old accused, with the help of several mental health experts and criminologists to arrive at a conclusion as to what led him to execute the mass murders and whether he was a victim of a spilt or multiple personality.

Also, during searches at his house, certain medicines 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, he said.

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

In the last couple of days, the police team has been recording statements of Hasnain’s relatives and friends besides the caretaker of the Pardesi Baba Darghah (also known as Durgha Hazrat Gaji Salauddin Shah Baba) which he used to visit often.

Police are also probing into 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, the caretaker, however, refused to make any comments.

Police had also learnt from neighbours that Hasnain used to slaughter goats for kurbani (sacrifice) ritual and, therefore, knew how to use a butcher’s knife that was used in the crime.

A police official from Kasarwadavali station said they have 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 Thane outskirts, and then committed suicide by hanging himself.

In a chilling testimony, a traumatised Subiya, 22, told a team of investigators on Wednesday at a hospital in Thane that she saw her brother holding a blood-stained butcher's knife in his hand and menacingly approaching her shouting that he has killed everyone in the family and it was her turn now.

Meanwhile, an uneasy calm prevailed at the 'Warekar Manzil' (Hasnain's house) in Wadavali. The residence that was a mute witness to the abominable act has been sealed by the police and it would be handed over to relatives only after the probe is over and an abatement summary report filed before the court, the official from Kasarwadavalli police station said.

Even locals are yet to recover from the shock.

Rajesh Gavli, one of the villagers who knew the family very well, told visiting newsmen that Warekars displayed a very good conduct and never got involved in any issues.

"How this happened is astounding," he said.

A local Congress leader and the first elected municipal corporator of the Thane Municipal Corporation Janardhan Atmaram Patil was also acquainted with the Warekars.

"I have been here for years. The family was a respectable one. Hasnain rushed to help anyone who was in need. Even when I was the village sarpanch and a corporator I knew them very well and was in close contact with them. The family had no issues. They did not have any property disputes. What drove them to this is unimaginable," he said.

At about ten minutes distance is the renowned Pardesi Baba Dargah. A board put up at the Dargah entrance contains the name of the accused’s father (Anwar Warekar) as one of the trustees. It states that any one wanting to donate for the Dargah in kind or cash may contact the trustees.

According to police, Hasnain, a commerce graduate, used to prepare income tax-related documents with a Chartered Accountant firm in Navi Mumbai and did not have any permanent job.