Two dead men inside an autorickshaw, a syringe, a spoon and a lighter, littered around - this was the crime scene that people in Manjeri woke up to on Thursday morning. According to the police, the post-mortem report reveals drug overdose. The men, identified as 40-year-old Riyaz Babu and 33-year-old Riyaz Kallupurackal, resided in Manjeri in Malappuram district.

Speaking to TNM, the Circle Inspector of Manjeri police station said that the chemical nature of the drugs is yet to be sent for analysis. In addition to lemon pieces and a bottle of water, a few drug paraphernalia, too, were recovered from the crime scene, including a syringe, a spoon (used to heat a drug), a box (to store the items) and a lighter. 

The CI said that the men were known to use drugs regularly and have been accused in several drug-related cases. “In the post-mortem reports, the doctors have confirmed that drug overdose is the cause of death. There are no other mysteries involved in this case,” he told TNM.

He also said that the autorickshaw, in which the two were found dead, belonged to one of them. “They had parked the three-wheeler in an isolated area, near a workshop, for using the drugs,” the CI added.

While one body was found in the front seat, the second one was found in the back seat.

The bodies were found in Cherani near Manjeri town on Thursday. While Riyaz Babu is a native of Vattappara in Manjeri, Riyaz K is a native of Erattupetta in Kottayam district and has been residing in Manjeri after getting married. 

Earlier this year in February, in two separate cases, a special team of police in Malappuram had seized drugs worth Rs 7 crore in Manjeri and Areekode. While Rs 6 crore-worth banned Ketamine drug was seized from Areekode, Rs 1 crore-worth brown sugar was held in Manjeri. A total of 10 people were arrested.