Kerala: Man found killed at house, wife serious

Thiruvananthapuram: A 45-year old man was killed and his wife seriously injured following a suspected robbery at Koliyoor near Poonkulam under Kovalam police station limits.

While Mariyadas, a casual mason worker, died, his wife Sheeja, aged around 40, suffered serious head injury. A gold chain weighing about 3.5 sovereign worn by Sheeja was reported missing, leading to suspicions that it was a murder for gain.

The couple's two children, 16-year old Ancy Das and 14-year old Abhaya Das, were in the house when the incident that shook the locality took place.

Police sources said that by 4.30 am Ancy Das woke up as a cat scratched her on her leg. As she came out of her room to chase away the cat, she saw her parents lying in a pool of blood. As she screamed aloud, neighbours rushed to the spot and alerted police.

Though it was initially suspected that both Mariyadas and Sheeja died, later someone noticed some movements in Sheeja. Subsequently she was rushed to the Medical College Hospital. Her condition was stated to be stable.

Police said that both Mariyadas and Sheeja were banged using a blunt weapon. Mariyadas suffered three blows to his forehead, in the impact of which his eyes were also damaged. Sheeja suffered injuries near the right ear.

Even while the police is suspecting a robbery, apart from the gold chain no other items were reported missing from the house. Hence the police was also probing whether anyone had personal rivalries with the family. The rear door of the house was found to be open.

"Prima facie it seemed to be a murder for gain. But since no other items were found stolen from the house, we are looking into other aspects too. The family were also found to be having some financial dealings with some individuals. Mariyadas had also complained against public liquor consumption by some locals. All these aspects are under probe, and we hope to have a breakthrough by Friday," said a police officer.

Police scientific investigation team collected fingerprints and other scientific evidence from the spot. Though sniffer dog also came, it did not give any clue. A police party also searched the entire area, including a deep canal, for evidence, but in vain.

The body of Mariyadas was handed over to relatives after postmortem examination and funeral was performed at the nearby church. He was the son of Samuel and Thankamma, who died earlier.

Senior police officers including ADGP south-zone B. Sandhya, IG Thiruvananthapuram-range Manoj Abraham, Thiruvananthapuram city police commissioner Sparjan Kumar and deputy commissioner of police G. Shiva Vikram and city control room assistant commissioner Pramodkumar A. visited the spot and led the investigation.

Fort assistant commissioner R.Sudhakaran Pillai was entrusted with the probe, said sources. Medical College hospital sources said Sheeja had undergone a major surgery as her skull was damaged in the attack. She was put under ventilator support.