In a suspected case of murder, the bodies of an elderly woman and her son who had been missing for several weeks were found buried near their house in Nedumkandam, Idukki. The deceased have been identified as Marykutty (70) of Ponnuttayil and her 48-year-old son Reji, both natives of Pachady Thottuvakkad in Nedumkandam.
Police suspect that Marykutty's younger son, Saji, murdered both of them and buried the bodies. According to the First Information Report, Marykutty and Reji had not been seen in the locality since April 2. Following this, Marykutty's daughter Sini lodged a complaint with the Nedumkandam police.
Acting on the complaint, police reached the house and conducted an inspection. During the search, officers noticed loose soil in the nearby farmland. Upon further examination, human remains were discovered. A detailed inspection conducted in the presence of senior police officials led to the recovery of both bodies, which were found in a decomposed state. Preliminary assessment suggests the bodies are around 15 days old.
The remains have been shifted to Idukki Medical College for postmortem examination. DNA analysis will also be conducted to confirm whether the bodies are those of the missing mother and son.
Police said that Reji and Saji used to frequently fight after consuming alcohol. Due to their constant disputes, they reportedly kept neighbours and even close relatives, including sisters, away from the house. They had also prevented family members from visiting their ailing mother.
It is suspected that a fight between the two brothers under the influence of alcohol escalated into the murders. Saji, who was present at the house until recently, went absconding when police reached the area. Police said that Saji even reportedly told relatives that Marykutty and Reji had left the house on April 2 and not returned.
Idukki district police chief K M Sabu Mathew said that Saji had been missing since Sunday and that efforts have been intensified to trace and apprehend him. Police have also circulated Saji's photographs to aid in his capture.
