Months after the Kerala police began investigating the deaths of two minor sisters from Palakkad's Walayar, who were found hanging in their house in a span of 52 days, investigating officers told TNM that both the cases were suicides.
Post mortem reports had revealed that both the sisters, aged 11 and 9, had been subjected to sexual abuse. The remark on the report had suggested that there were possibilities of murder and had asked the police to investigate further.
However, after questioning many and sending four of the five accused to judicial custody, the police said that they have ruled out the possibility of murder. The police made the revelation in their report submitted to the State Human Rights Commission in April.
Speaking to TNM, Palakkad SP Pratheesh Kumar said that during the course of the investigation, the team was unable to find any evidence that point to murder.
"After probing the case, we have written to the rights commission that we have to rule out the possibility of murder for lack of evidence. We will be submitting the chargesheet in the case within the next few days," the SP said.
5 people have been booked in the case, including one juvenile, who has been granted bail.
The other four accused are V Madhu, Shibhu, Pradeep Kumar and M Madhu.
While both V Madhu and M Madhu are the deceased girls' mother's close relatives, Shibu had been living with the family for a couple of years, the police said. Pradeep was their neighbour. While Shibu allegedly sexually abused the elder girl child, all the other four accused allegedly repeatedly abused both the girls.
The accused have been charged under various sections including section 305 (Abetment to suicide), SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act, rape, various sections of POCSO and Juvenile Justice Act.
In April last week, a 17-year-old boy, who was questioned in the case, killed himself by hanging from a tree.