Alappuzha, 07 September (H.S.):

The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) is expected to rule on Monday on a police request seeking custody of a 13-year-old girl and three other teenagers accused in the murder of 65-year-old Sivankutty Chettiar.

Alappuzha police have sought custody of the girl for detailed questioning, while investigators want the other three juveniles in their custody to conduct evidence collection. All four accused are minors, making the board's decision crucial to the course of the investigation.

During a hearing on September 5, Public Prosecutor Manu Kallampally argued that custodial questioning and evidence collection were necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the crime. Investigators have already questioned the three teenagers in the presence of the district probation officer but say their accounts contain several contradictions.

The investigation has also produced conflicting versions of the alleged motive. One teenager reportedly told police that the girl had complained about inappropriate behaviour by Chettiar. Others, however, said Chettiar regularly reprimanded her for returning home late and spending too much time on her mobile phone.

Police are examining these competing claims and have not reached a final conclusion about what prompted the killing. Investigators reportedly found that, hours before contacting her friends, the girl had attempted to take money from an almirah. Chettiar allegedly saw her and scolded her, an incident police believe may also have angered her.

Officials consider the girl's questioning essential to verify the statements made by the other accused and determine the actual sequence of events. They say circumstantial evidence will be particularly important in building the case.

Police have separately requested that the three other juvenile accused be tried as adults. Investigators argue that such a decision would allow evidence-collection procedures to proceed without complications arising from legal safeguards applicable to children.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman