Kunjumon, who was allegedly murdered in Kattappana
Idukki : The death of a 45-year-old man while undergoing treatment after being found unconscious on the roadside in Kattappana turned out to be a murder. The four men were friends and had been drinking together at Sureshkumar’s barber shop on Aug 25 night, on the eve of Thiruvonam. He died on Aug 27.
A postmortem examination revealed fractures to eight ribs and internal bleeding.
Police said an argument broke out after Kunjumon allegedly made an objectionable remark about the mother of one of the accused. Police have arrested three of his friends in connection with the case. When he failed to leave the verandah on the morning of Thiruvonam, residents alerted the police. He was taken to Kattappana taluk hospital and later shifted to Idukki Medical College Hospital as his condition was critical. During the investigation, police received information that Kunjumon had been assaulted. A crucial breakthrough came from the statement of an autorickshaw driver who had reportedly seen the accused dragging Kunjumon. The three suspects went into hiding after learning about his death and were later arrested by the police. They have reportedly confessed to the crime. The investigation was conducted by a team led by Kattappana DySP Reji M. Kunnipparambil under the supervision of Idukki district police chief Dr A Naseem.