According to the information available so far, the incident followed a dispute between the couple.
Police are yet to establish the precise sequence of events that resulted in Rukaiya being attacked. Investigators are also looking into the circumstances inside the house before relatives and neighbours arrived.
The couple lived in the same house with their two children, Ali’s parents and his elder brother, according to local residents.
Neighbours reportedly said the family had appeared normal earlier that day. There was no immediate indication that the situation would turn violent.
The investigation is now focused on piecing together what happened before the alleged stabbing.
Neighbours raise mental health claims
Some neighbours have claimed that Ali had been facing mental health problems for several months and was receiving treatment.
They also reportedly said that he had previously been taken for religious healing.
However, police have not confirmed that these claims had any role in the alleged murder.
Investigators are verifying the information and have not drawn any conclusion about Ali’s mental health or whether it was connected to the killing.
This distinction is important as the investigation is still underway. The allegations made by neighbours cannot by themselves establish the accused’s mental state at the time of the incident.