Public give names after Crimewatch appeal (From The Bolton News)

Public give names after Crimewatch appeal

9:13am Friday 29th January 2010 in

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DETECTIVES investigating a fatal house fire which claimed the lives of a Bolton woman and her granddaughter are chasing new leads after an appeal on BBC TV show Crimewatch.

Officers say they have had a positive response following Wednesday night’s broadcast.

Hameeda Begum and her four-year-old granddaughter Alana Mian were killed in an arson attack on a property in Little Holme Walk, Great Lever, on June 23, 2008.

But whoever started the fire is still at large.

Det Chief Insp Jeff McMahon, of Greater Manchester Police’s major incident team, said the show had resulted in a number of calls.

He said: “We received about 10 calls from members of the public following the appeal, some of which provided us with new information.

“This will now be fed back into the inquiry and we will continue to investigate.

“I want to thank the public for their response so far and remind them that a £25,000 reward is now available for anyone who provides the information that leads to a conviction.”

Mrs Begum’s husband Mumtaz Chishty described the night of the incident and fireman Steve Morris, who was seriously injured and has since received bravery awards for his actions, was also interviewed.

Alana’s mother, Saima, was seriously hurt in the incident but was later released from hospital.

A reconstruction of the night of the blaze, which featured a number of Mr Morris’ colleagues, was shown and viewers were asked to call the Crimewatch hotline with any information.

Speaking to presenter Kirsty Young, Det Chief Insp McMahon said he believed the attackers had a racist motive.

He said: “It was certainly a deliberate attack and the family were targeted. We have to look at that as a line of inquiry.”

At the end of the show, police officers were given two names as a result of the appeal.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the major incident team on 0161 856 2197 or Crimstoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

andrew.greaves@ heboltonnews.co.uk