Debt or drug use? Police stumped about motive in Kerala mass murder case
Kerala police are investigating the motive behind five shocking murders, focusing on financial debt rather than drug abuse. The accused, 23-year-old Afan, confessed to the crimes, but remains hospitalised, while authorities probe digital evidence and financial records.
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Kerala Police are struggling to determine the motive
behind the five murders that shocked the state capital, though they are
focusing on financial debt rather than drug abuse.
The accused, 23-year-old Afan, walked into a police station on
Monday, confessed to the murders, and claimed he had consumed poison. “We are
probing the cause behind the murder. We are also checking if he was under the
influence of any narcotics,” a senior police officer told India Today.
Thiruvananthapuram Rural SP Sudarshan
KS confirmed the family’s financial troubles. “The accused gave a statement
that he committed the murders because of the financial crisis. But we have to
investigate if that was the only reason. We have to examine digital evidence
also,” he said.
Deviating from their earlier stance, the officer
also clarified that drug abuse has not yet been established. “His samples have
been sent for testing to see if he was under the influence of drugs and
alcohol. The results are not yet out,” Sudarshan said.
Authorities are focusing on financial debt as a primary motive.
Afan’s father, currently in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, has been unable to return
home for seven years due to an expired visa and outstanding debts. The family
visited him months ago on a short-term visa and was planning to sell property
to clear their debts. “Many organisations are trying to help him get back
home,” SP Sudarshan said.
The family reportedly owed Rs 64 lakh to 11-12 people.
Afan had pledged a gold chain he stole from his grandmother to repay Rs 40,000
of the Rs 74,000 he borrowed, the Rural SP revealed.
Afan, still hospitalised, has not been formally arrested. “We have
taken some statements from him in between. But detailed questioning will take
place only after recording his arrest,” the SP said, estimating his release
from hospital in three days.
A team of 25 officers is investigating the three crime scenes,
while Afan’s mother, who was also attacked, is recovering.
THE
MURDER STORY SO FAR
On Monday, Afan surrendered at the Venjaramoodu
police station, confessing to killing six people, including his family and
girlfriend, across three houses. Of the six, his mother survived, but was taken
to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College in a critical condition.
According to the police, Afan attacked his grandmother Salma
Beevi, uncle Latheef and his wife Shahida, his mother, his 13-year-old brother
Ahasan, and his girlfriend Farshana.
Neighbours who arrived at the crime scenes described gruesome
details of smashed-in skulls and bodies lying in pools of blood. Inspector
General (South Zone) S Shyam Sundar stated, “Probe is going on. The forensic
team is at the site. They are collecting evidence. It’s too early to come to
any conclusion.”
However, he added that a hammer was likely used in the
murders.
The police suspect Afan travelled between the houses on his
motorbike but have not confirmed the exact sequence of killings. However, he
did not use his bike to reach the police station, citing mechanical issues.
Instead, he called an auto-rickshaw, paid the driver, and walked in to
surrender. The autorickshaw driver later confirmed that Afan showed no known
signs of addiction or mental health issues, the police said.
News is originally taken from: https://bit.ly/41yRcqI
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