Eight years after the brutal murders of 38-year-old Sasikala Narra and her six-year-old son, Anish, authorities have announced charges against an Indian man, Nazeer Hameed, in connection with the killings.
Hameed, 38, who worked alongside Sasikala’s husband, N. Hanumantha Rao, at Cognizant Technology Solutions, is accused of stabbing both mother and child in their Maple Shade home in March 2017. Following the killings, he returned to India, where he has remained since.
Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office officials detailed that Hameed lived within walking distance of the victims and had reportedly been stalking Hanumantha Narra prior to the murders. Investigators believe he waited until Hanumantha had left the apartment before attacking Sasikala and Anish, who suffered multiple stab and slice wounds, with Anish nearly decapitated.
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“This was one of the most brutal crime scenes our veteran officers have ever seen, and they remain affected by it,” said Patrick Thornton, Chief of Investigations at the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office. “He committed this crime, and there is no doubt in our minds that he is responsible.”
The investigation stalled for years, as authorities struggled to obtain DNA evidence from Hameed. In June 2019, investigators found an unknown blood sample at the crime scene matching Hameed’s blood type, but repeated efforts to secure a DNA sample from him failed. Hameed refused to comply, and though the Indian government agreed to assist, the effort was not acted upon.
A breakthrough came in December 2024, when Cognizant provided Hameed’s company-issued laptop to investigators. DNA recovered from the device matched the blood sample from the crime scene, giving authorities the physical evidence needed to formally charge him.
Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia Bradshaw praised the multi-year collaboration between local, state, and federal authorities, emphasising the importance of cross-border cooperation. “No border can stand in the way of justice, and the people of Burlington County deserve closure,” she said.
Authorities are now working with US federal officials and the Indian government to extradite Hameed to New Jersey to face charges, including murder and related crimes.
Sasikala and Anish Narra’s family in India expressed relief at the announcement. Through a lawyer, they stated their appreciation for law enforcement’s dedication. “It took a very long time, but that’s how justice goes sometimes,” said Donald F. Browne Jr., representing the family.
The Narras had immigrated to the United States from Andhra Pradesh, India, and settled in Maple Shade. Anish was a student at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, where teachers remembered him as “a beautiful child of God.”
As investigators pursue extradition, authorities remain determined to bring Hameed to justice, ensuring accountability for the heinous crimes committed over eight years ago.
