Thiruvananthapuram: In two separate incidents in Kerala, five people were found dead in their homes.
In Changanacherry in Kottayam district, decomposed bodies of a mother and son were found, and in Palakkad, bodies of a mother and twin sons were found.
The man and mother found dead at Thrikkodithanam near Changanacherry were identified as Sony Scaria (34) and Graceamma (65). It is suspected that the man killed his mother and committed suicide. The deaths apparently happened three days ago and the bodies had begun decomposing. Neighbours alerted police when foul smell emanated from the house.
At Kottayi in Palakkad, a woman and her twin sons are believed to have taken their lives after being threatened by money lenders. The deceased were identified as Madhavikutty Amma (80), and her 34-year-old sons Vinod and Pramod. One of the sons was physically challenged and local reports indicated that the family resorted to the extreme step after he was manhandled by money lenders from whom the family had borrowed money.
In another incident at Changanacherry, a parish priest, Tom Kottathil (35) was attacked on Monday night by a gang when the priest was returning to the church after dropping a friend. Reports say the gang followed the priest on a bike and beat him up. The priest has been admitted to a hospital. Police have taken into custody three people in connection with the incident.
A shut-down has been called in Changanacherry on Wednesday to protest the attack on the priest.
