Kottayam : Police on Saturday questioned the juvenile accused in the murder of an elderly man in Alappuzha and the alleged robbery of the man’s ornaments, with the permission of Juvenile Justice Board, officials said.
The two-hour questioning was conducted between 3.30pm and 5.30pm in the presence of a police officer, as mandated by procedure, police said, adding that the process would be completed and a report submitted to the court. The murder was allegedly committed by a minor and two associates at the instance of a 13-year-old girl, the victim’s granddaughter, who is said to have given the contract for the killing, according to the police.
Police said their preliminary assessment attributes the act to the accused’s family background and social circumstances, adding that exposure to mobile phone content and depictions of crime in films may have also been contributing factors. This appears to have given the juveniles the confidence and means to plan the crime and attempt to destroy evidence, the investigators said. The juveniles involved have been lodged at an observation home for children in conflict with law.