Personal rivalry causes double murder in Palakkad: Police

Palakkad

The double murder of an elderly woman and her son in Kerala's Palakkad district, allegedly committed by their neighbor Chenthamara, was driven by long-standing personal enmity, police revealed on Wednesday. The tragic incident occurred on Monday morning when 72-year-old Lakshmi and her 53-year-old son Sudhakaran were brutally hacked to death outside their home in Pothundi.

Chenthamara, 58, fled after the killings but was apprehended after a massive manhunt on Tuesday night. Police confirmed that he showed no remorse and appeared content with his actions. During his initial questioning, Chenthamara disclosed that the murders were a result of a bitter rivalry that had intensified following the 2019 death of Sudhakaran's wife, Sajitha, allegedly at Chenthamara's hands. He reportedly believed that his wife left him due to interference from the victims' family.

The police suspect the murders were pre-planned, as Chenthamara had purchased a weapon in advance. Despite claiming he had consumed poison to mislead the authorities, medical tests found no evidence of poison in his system.

Chenthamara, familiar with the area's forested hills, evaded capture for over 24 hours before hunger led him back near his home, where police arrested him. Authorities have faced criticism for not acting sooner, as locals had reportedly informed the police that Chenthamara violated his bail conditions.