Dubai: An Indian couple from Gujarat was found murdered and their teenage daughter brutally injured by a Pakistani national here last week during a break-in and robbery bid. Dubai Police have arrested a Pakistani man.

The couple — Hiren Adhiya and Vidhi Adhiya, both in their 40s were killed on June 18. A Pakistani, accused of their murder was arrested in less than 24 hours.

The Adhiyas were residing at a villa in Arabian Ranches. Their two children, aged 13 and 18, were at home when the incident took place. The elder daughter was stabbed when she came face to face with the accused, but escaped with minor injuries.

Hiren was a senior director at a Sharjah oil and gas contractor. He along with his family had moved to Dubai around three years ago. They have relatives in India’s Gujarat state.

It is gathered that the accused was part of a maintenance team who worked on the family”s home two years ago. The accused, later unemployed, had knowledge of the family”s affluent position, and had returned to rob them of cash and jewellery.

Investigations revealed that the suspect entered the two-storey villa through an unlocked verandah after climbing over a wall. He found a wallet that had Dh2,000 and went upstairs to look for more valuables. As he searched the bedroom in which the couple was sleeping, Hiren woke up. Brigadier Jamal said the suspect then allegedly stabbed the man. Hearing her husband’s screams, Vidhi woke up, prompting the suspect to stab her as well. He stabbed them multiple times to make them stop screaming, the officer said.

The couple’s 18-year-old daughter woke up on hearing the screams, walked to her parents’ room and found them in a pool of blood. As she saw the suspect fleeing with a blood-stained knife, she raised an alarm, after which he attacked her. She sustained minor injuries in her neck. She immediately called the police.

The police reached the spot and combed the area for evidence. They found the murder weapon 1,000 metres away from the villa and handed it over to the forensic department. Investigations and data analysis led to the suspect’s arrest from a neighbouring emirate.

Colonel Adel Al Joker, assistant director-general for criminal investigation, said the suspect confessed to committing the crime.

“He used to work at a maintenance company and carried out some work at the villa. While doing his job, he saw large sums of money kept at the house. He purchased a knife from a shop that was far from his residence and made his way to the villa to commit the crime,” the officer said.

Col Al Joker called on residents to ensure that all entrances to their homes are locked and to instal surveillance cameras.

Consul-General of India to Dubai Vipul said the local authorities acted “very swiftly” to arrest the suspect. Calling the incident tragic, the diplomat said the mission was in touch with relatives and friends of the family.

(With inputs from Khaleej Times and IANS)