Two Indian nationals — Shahjadi Khan and Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu — who were executed after being handed death sentences in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), were buried on Thursday in the presence of their family members, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Shahjadi and Arangilottu were buried following the regulations of the UAE, the MEA said.
The burial of a third Indian national, Muraleedharan PV, a Kerala resident sentenced to death in the UAE, will be held soon after the formalities are over, sources told The Indian Express.
Shahjadi, 33, a caregiver from Uttar Pradesh’s Banda district was executed on February 15, months after a court found her guilty of allegedly murdering a four-month-old child. Rinash, from Kerala’s Kannur, was working in a travel agency in Al Ain prior to his arrest for allegedly killing a UAE national. He was executed a few weeks ago. Muraleedharan was sentenced to death for the murder of an Indian immigrant.
“Burial of Shahjadi Khan, an Indian national, was conducted today in Abu Dhabi as per regulations of the UAE authorities,” the MEA said on Thursday. “Prior to her burial, the authorised representatives of Shahjadi’s family paid respect to the mortal remains. They also attended the funeral prayers at the mosque as well as the burial at the Baniyas cemetery.”
The UAE authorities had informed the Indian embassy on February 28 about the executions, after which the mission got in touch with their families. The MEA said the embassy had provided all possible consular and legal assistance to the Indian nationals.
“Embassy officials assisted the authorised representatives in this regard as well as attended the last rites,” it said.
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“The burial of Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu, an Indian national, also took place today. His family members were also present for paying their last respects and participating in prayers prior to his burial,” the ministry said.
Shahjadi was convicted on charges of murder of her employer’s child in 2022 and sentenced to death. The highest court of the UAE, the Court of Cassation, upheld the death penalty on February 28, 2024. Her family filed a mercy petition in May 2024, but it received no response.
