On Monday, the residents of Elamakkara at Edapally North in Ernakulam woke up to the gruesome news that a couple in their neighbourhood was brutally murdered by their son.
61-year-old Shamsu and 57-year-old Sarasawathi, of Azheekal Kadavu family in Elamakkara, were allegedly beaten with a hammer and then stabbed to death by their son, Sanal, on Monday morning.
The incident apparently took place following a quarrel between Sanal and his parents. According to police officials as well as the neighbours, 30-year-old Sanal has been living with mental health issues and has been taking medicine for the same.
“As per the residents in the area, Sanal had a quarrel with his mother Sarasawathi early on Monday morning at around 5.30 am. When he tried to attack her, she ran off to a nearby house,” a distant relative of the family, who stays half a kilometre away from the family, told TNM.
Sanal’s father was not at home since he had gone for his daily morning walk. When Shamsu came back, Sanal began to quarrel with his father as well. Saraswathi, who was still at the neighbour’s house, heard the commotion and rushed back home. However, the quarrel escalated and Sanal then allegedly picked up a hammer and attacked his parents. He then allegedly stabbed them to death with a kitchen knife.
When the neighbours realised that a quarrel had broken out and when they heard the screams, they immediately alerted the police. The police reached the spot and took Sanal into custody.
The accused has been sent to police custody. “The procedures to prepare an inquest (a judicial inquiry) are underway and his arrest will be registered shortly,” said an official.
The neighbours, as well as the couple’s relatives, have recorded their statements with the police.
Sanal, apparently, was not employed. “It is heard that he was earlier ousted from two jobs due to his behaviour,” the relative said.
The couple is also survived by a daughter, who is married.
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