Kota bharu: Kelantan police have expressed concern over a significant increase in murder cases, which have risen by more than 100 percent from January to April this year compared to the same period last year. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat revealed that five murder cases have been recorded so far, up from just one case during the same timeframe last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat explained the difficulty in pinpointing the exact cause of this surge, noting that not all murder cases are linked to drug influence. He highlighted that some incidents stem from altercations that escalate to murder, even when the suspects test negative for drugs. He emphasized that this increase is concerning, attributing it in part to a lack of strong faith and religious beliefs, which can lead individuals to act violently and lose judgment.

In response to this trend, Mohd Yusoff advised the public to be more vigilant regarding their family members' activities and to closely monitor their children's social interactions as a preventive measure.

Additionally, Mohd Yusoff reported the successful resolution of a murder case involving a 19-year-old disabled man in Kampung Chap Bekelam, Bachok, on April 14. The victim was discovered unconscious by the roadside and later pronounced dead from head injuries caused by blunt force trauma. A coordinated effort by the Kelantan Criminal Investigation Department and the Bachok district police headquarters resulted in a series of raids that led to the arrest of six men and a woman, along with the seizure of several items to assist in the ongoing investigation.

In another development, police are finalizing investigation papers against Pasir Puteh Member of Parliament Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh over a statement alleged to have offended religious sensitivities. The investigation, which has garnered 63 reports nationwide, is being conducted under Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.