Paappu, father of Jisha, who was allegedly raped and brutally murdered at her residence near Perumbavur a year ago, was found dead near his house on Thursday.
According to the police, the 65-year-old had been ailing from an illness for the past few months and collapsed around 100 meters away from his residence near Cherukunnam, close to Odakkaly, reports Deccan Chronicle.
The police also said that Paappu had reportedly showed signs of uneasiness and discomfort around 10:30am and his relatives alerted the police. Paappu breathed his last by the time the police reached his house. However, a case of unnatural death has been filed by the Kuruppampady police.
Kuruppampady police sub-inspector Sunil Thomas told ToI, “He was on the road and had started feeling uneasiness by noon. A passer-by had given him water as he was found exhausted and he had alerted relatives and the ward member. On being alerted by the relatives, a policeman was sent to the spot. By the time he reached the spot, he had already died.”
Police also said that Paappu had mostly been living in isolation despite being ill. He was also under the care of a palliative care organization.
Kuruppampady CI K R Manoj spoke to The New Indian Express and said, “We have carried out an inquest and sent the body for an autopsy at Ernakulam Government Medical College. The body will be handed over to the relative on Friday after post mortem.”
The incident occurs at a time when the trial in Jisha murder case is heading towards conclusion. Paappu was one of the witnesses to be examined by the Principal Additional Sessions Court in connection with the rape and murder of his daughter in April last year. His death took place at a time when the court began final hearing in the case. Sabhu Mathai, another witness in the case, was also found dead at his residence three months ago, reports Deccan Chronicle.
Meanwhile, Ernakulam principal sessions court on Thursday permitted the defense counsel in the case to examine seven witnesses. The defense counsel had submitted a witness list of 30 persons, including the then home minister Ramesh Chennithala. Paappu was also on the list.
The 30-year-old Jisha was raped and brutally murdered on April 28, 2016 at her residence in Perumbavoor, and it had sent shockwaves across the country.