Thiruvananthapuram: The alleged murder of two children Feba, 9 and Febin, and alleged suicide by father Shiby, 37, of Chennilodu, Kannamoola was the eventual outcome of domestic violence that has been brewing for months. For the past one year, following his mother’s death, Shilby used to exhibit unusual anger and rash behaviour to family members including his wife Hannah Joy. Though he used to share a good rapport with his children, he often used to beat up Hannah.
Hannah who was beaten up with a helmet, decided to put an end to the ordeal and decided to file a complaint with the Pettah police. Hannah had a job as a clerk with the police department which she got after her dad, a cop, died while in service. She was posted at the Special Armed Police camp, Peroorkada. She decided to shift to the police quarters here under the belief that her husband would not dare to beat her up there.
She was packing up her belongings to be shipped to the camp when Shiby picked up the children on the pretext of going to church. He seated the children on the bike and turned back to take a glance at Hannah for several seconds, says a relative. The children were found slashed to death at Veli while Shiby jumped in front of a train. “Hannah and Shiby were children of police officials and neighbours. The man was a substance abuser,” the relative said.
All domestic violence cases have potential to become murders According to psychologist Deebu Abey John, there is a potential murderer in everyone who engages in domestic violence. The risk for the victim increases with each cycle of violence as perpetrators tend to increase the extent of violence. “Here, extreme anger and disorientation from reality might have pushed the man to the extent of trying every method to deny the children to their mother,” Mr John said. “Early legal intervention and quick bailout of such a relationship can be the only saving factor for women and children,” he said.
