THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cops in Attingal were taken by surprise when they found that the man who allegedly murdered a youth on December 6 was the same security guard who allegedly murdered 72-year-old woman on December 9. The accused has been identified as Manikantan, 28, of Thoppi chantha, near Varkala. He was arrested a day earlier by Kadakkavoor police for allegedly hacking and murdering an elderly woman who resisted his sexual advances. In what was earlier presumed as a bike accident, Manu Karthikeyan, 33, was found dead in front of his house at Poovanpara on December 6.
The autopsy recommended another expert review which confirmed that the wound on the back of Manu’s head was from a weapon, not caused by an accident. On inquiry, it was found that Manu and his friend Manikantan had allegedly roughed up an inebriated man and his friend a few days ago when they came to buy pickles. Police officials interrogated around 100 persons in the area and held one Ashokan, 44 of Kadakkavoor who fought with Manu. He told police that Manikantan, who was with him during the brawl, might have murdered Manu.
After this, Attingal police officials rushed to Kadakkavoor station. On being interrogated, the security guard confessed that he was secretly following Manu for a few days. Late in the night on December 6, he hid behind the bushes near the victim’s house. When Manu was getting down from his bike, the suspect made a small but deep cut above his neck and fled. The family members who came outside on hearing a cry thought that Manu was injured after falling down from the bike. There were no witnesses to this murder. The arrest came after scientific investigation by a team led by Thiruvanantha-puram Rural SP Shefeen Ahamed.
