Representative image of a crime scene.
Credit: iStock Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: A man accused of murdering a woman at Nenmara on the suburbs of Palakkad district of Kerala on Monday, allegedly murdered her husband and his mother.
The incident has put the police on the defensive as the family as well as others in the locality alleged that though they had complained to the police about the accused, who is on bail, the police did not act.
Sudhakaran, 53, and his mother Meenakshi, 72, of Pothundi in Nenmara were killed. The suspect Chenthamara, 57, absconded after the incident. Chenthamara, who is a neighbour of the deceased, was accused of murdering Sudhakaran's wife six years back. He was out on bail.
Meanwhile, Palakkad district police chief Ajit Kumar said that the accused was warned by the police on the basis of Sudhakaran's complaint and steps were being taken to cancel his bail.
Sudhakaran's daughter Akhila and other residents of the locality said that they were living under the fear of Chenthamara who used to always keep a knife with him and threaten people, especially Sudhakaran's family.
"I was staying at a relative's house owing to fear of Chenthamara. We had complained to the police about the threat from Chenthamara. But the police did not act," an emotionally upset Akhila said.
Local sources said that Chenthamara was under the impression that his family estranged him owing to interference of the neighbours. This was the reason for the animosity.
Prima facie information of the police was that on Monday, Chenthamara attacked Sudhakaran and hacked him. Meenakshi was hacked when she tried to prevent the attack.