Brutal Murder of Kerala Businessman and Spouse; Migrant Worker Detained
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Synopsis
A businessman and his wife were brutally murdered in Kottayam, Kerala. A migrant worker from Assam, previously employed by them, has been detained as a suspect. The police are investigating the case, which raises questions about potential links to a previous homicide involving their son.
Key Takeaways
- Prominent Kottayam couple murdered
- Migrant worker detained as suspect
- Brutality of the crime shocks locals
- Investigation reveals potential links to past homicide
- CCTV evidence missing from the crime scene
Kottayam, April 22 (NationPress) A prominent businessman and his spouse were discovered brutally killed inside their residence in Kerala's Kottayam on Tuesday, as reported by officials. A suspect has been apprehended in connection with the case.
The suspect, identified as Amit, is a migrant worker from Assam, who had previously worked for the couple.
The victims, Vijayakumar and his wife Meera, operated a luxurious convention center along with other business interests.
The housemaid, who came to work as usual on Tuesday morning, noticed something was off in the house and discovered the back door ajar. After receiving no reply from the couple, she promptly alerted the neighbors, who then contacted the police.
Upon their arrival, law enforcement found the couple dead in separate rooms, having been killed with an axe.
Both victims were found without clothing and lying in a pool of blood. The murder weapon, an axe, was also recovered from the scene.
High-ranking officials from the Kottayam district police have arrived at the residence to initiate an investigation.
Local legislator Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan stated that the inquest is ongoing. “This was a horrific murder involving weapons. A migrant worker has been identified as the main suspect. The investigation will determine if others were involved. The hard drive of the CCTV system in the house is missing. We await further findings and the local community has pledged full assistance to the police,” remarked Radhakrishnan.
Notably, Vijayakumar had dismissed Amit's employment in November after filing a complaint regarding missing items from their home.
Amit had been arrested and spent time in jail due to the burglary incident.
Authorities, however, remain tight-lipped about the investigation details as they proceed with their inquiries.
“There had been a prior case against the migrant worker. The missing hard disk clearly indicates something, and the silence of the pet dog suggests this crime was committed by someone familiar with the premises,” added Radhakrishnan, a former Home Minister.
Interestingly, seven years ago, Vijayakumar's son Gautam was found murdered and mutilated beside a railway track in the district.
Subsequently, Vijayakumar sought a CBI investigation through the Kerala High Court, and just last month, the Court ordered a CBI probe. The Thiruvananthapuram CBI unit has recently commenced its investigation.
Following their initial probe, police have largely dismissed the possibility of the murder being a burglary, as none of the deceased's gold ornaments were missing, nor was the home ransacked.
Consequently, investigators are exploring any links between the death of his son and the brutal slaying of the parents.
State Minister for Ports and Cooperation V.N. Vasavan, who is from Kottayam, described the manner in which the murder was executed as extremely cruel. “One individual was arrested in relation to a prior complaint made by Vijayakumar regarding a stolen mobile phone,” noted Vasavan.
