In a gruesome incident, an elderly couple was found murdered in their house in the heart of Kottayam city on the morning of Tuesday, April 22. The deceased have been identified as Vijaya Kumar (64), owner of the Indraprastham Auditorium in Thirunakkara, and his wife Meera (60).
The couple was found dead around 8.45 am by their domestic worker, who immediately alerted the neighbours. It was the neighbours who informed the police. According to officials, both Vijaya Kumar and Meera had deep wounds on their faces and heads, believed to have been caused by a sharp weapon. Their bodies were discovered in separate rooms and reportedly without clothes.
Police recovered a billhook and an ammikallu (traditional grinding stone) near the gate of the house. Notably, there were no signs of forced entry or robbery, leading investigators to suspect that the assailant may have been known to the victims.
Adding to the mystery, the hard disk of the house’s CCTV system was found missing, prompting suspicions that the murder was premeditated and that the assailant took measures to erase evidence.
Police have begun a detailed forensic examination of the crime scene and are questioning neighbours and associates of the couple.
In 2018, the couple’s son died after being hit by a train in Kottayam. Following demands from relatives for a deeper investigation, a CBI probe into the incident is currently underway.
The couple is survived by a daughter who lives abroad.