Kottayam: Sorcerer Kanattu Krishnan and three members of his family of Idukki were murdered by his former assistant and a friend to possess his black magic skills and manuscripts, according to the police.
The murders were committed by Anish, 30, of Adimaly, a former disciple of Kanattu Krishnan, and Anish's friend Libeesh on the night of July 29. While the police took into custody Libeesh, Anish is absconding. The bodies of Krishnan, 52, his wife Susheela, 50, children Arsha, 21, and Arjun,18, were found buried in a pit in the goat shed near their house at Kambakanam, Kaliyar, in Idukki district.
The post-mortem of Krishnan and Arjun suggested that they were alive when they were buried inside the goat shed. The presence of soil was found in their lungs Anish planned the murder over a period of six months thinking that his own black magic skills were diminishing due to Krishnan's presence and hence decided to eliminate him. Libeesh is a former associate of Anish in borewell work.
According to Idukki district police chief K.B. Venugopal, the two reached the house of Krishnan on July 29 night on a two- wheeler to eliminate the family. He beat the goats at the shed behind Krishnan's house and Krishnan came out hearing the sounds. They hit him on his head with an iron rod. His wife Susheela was also killed with the rod and a hammer. Hearing the screams, their daughter Arsha came out with an iron rod and hit Anish on his head.
Though he sustained injuries, he overpowered her but she bit off the nail from the hand of Anish. She and her brother Arjun were also struck down with the rod and the bodies were left inside the house.
Twenty sovereigns of gold and Rs 3,500 were stolen by the accused. They went to their house and came back on Monday night when they saw Arjun sitting near a table with serious injuries. He was hit again and killed. The four were stabbed and buried in the pit. The police have intensified the search for Anish, said Mr Venugopal.
