Kochi, 28 April (H.S.):Police on Tuesday arrested Saji (43), the younger son of Marykutty and brother of Reji—the two suspected victims in the Nedumkandam double murder case—from a hillock near his residence in Idukki district.
Saji had been absconding since Sunday evening after fleeing his home when police arrived for questioning.
According to officials, he escaped upon noticing a police jeep near his house, triggering an intensive search operation that lasted over 24 hours.
Police teams carried out a combing operation in and around the locality using drones and sniffer dogs. During the search, a police dog led investigators to a bag believed to belong to Saji, found near his residence. On Tuesday morning, multiple teams resumed the search and eventually located him hiding in a hilly area behind his house at Thottuvakkada with the help of drone surveillance.
Authorities had also alerted Tamil Nadu Police and tightened border checkposts amid concerns that the suspect might attempt to flee the state.
The case came to light after human remains were discovered in the courtyard of a house belonging to Marykutty, a resident of Pachadi in Nedumkandam. Police suspect the remains are those of Marykutty (70) and her elder son Reji (48), who had been missing since April 2. Investigators believe the victims were murdered and buried on the premises.
Marykutty lived with her two sons, Reji and Saji, both unmarried. Police have taken Saji into custody and said further interrogation will be crucial in establishing his role in the killings.
Meanwhile, investigators have also reopened the mysterious disappearance of Marykutty’s husband Mathew in 2018. Officials are probing whether his case is linked to the present incident, raising suspicions of a possible pattern of foul play within the family.
The bodies will be handed over to relatives after post-mortem examinations. Police said more details are expected to emerge following sustained interrogation of the accused.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
