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 A shattered skull, a woman's body in a chair and a 13-year-old boy lying dead surrounded by Rs 500 notes - these were the scenes at three locations in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram where a 23-year-old man allegedly carried out mass murder. Police claim that there is "evidence of drug use" by the accused, police said on Tuesday. The mass murder took place across three houses, reportedly separated by around 20-25 kilometres in the Venjaramoodu area near the state capital.
According to the police, the accused -- Afan -- walked into the police station and confessed to murdering five people -- his brother, grandmother, paternal uncle, aunt, and a young woman said to be his lover.
Initial investigations reveal that all the victims were hammered to death with the uncle being the most cruelly attacked. "It was difficult to identify the victims as they were all covered in blood. When we lifted Latheef [the uncle], someone's fingers went inside his head through a huge hole at the back of his skull," a neighbour, recounting the horrifying scenes at the murder site, told PTI.
The victims included Afan's 13-year-old brother Afsan. The accused allegedly struck him multiple times in the head, killing him instantly. Disturbingly, he scattered Rs 500 notes around the child's body.
The other victims were Afan's grandmother, his lover his paternal uncle and the latter's wife.
The remains of Afan's grandmother, brother, uncle and aunt were kept on public display at the accused's grandmother's home at Pangode for relatives and neighbours to pay their last respects.
Hundreds, including close friends, relatives and neighbours turned up to see the victims' remains for the last time and many could be seen breaking into tears.
Thereafter, the victims' remains were laid to rest in the evening at the Pangode Juma Masjid.
According to reports, Afan travelled from one house to the other on his motorbike to carry out the murders.
Neighbours and relatives, shocked and shaken by the murders, claimed that Afan was a good-natured, mild-mannered and soft-spoken person.
A woman who runs a tea shop near Afan's home said that the accused loved his brother and used to take care of him.
"I cannot believe he did it. He was a good boy. There is not a single bad thing we can say about him. Saw his (accused) younger brother yesterday afternoon also. Did not know what had happened till the police arrived," she said, according to PTI.
Similar responses came from other neighbours and relatives who could not believe Afan carried out the killings.
Police have not yet officially divulged details of the case including the motive behind the murders and the weapon used for carrying out the killings.
However, some news reports claim that the financial crisis in the family was the motive behind the killings and that Afan allegedly used a hammer to carry out the murders.