Thiruvananthapuram: In an shocking incident in Kerala’s southern district of Kollam, a woman was accused of murdering her teenaged son in a macabre fashion, dismembering his body and setting it on fire.
On Thursday, police arrested Jayamol, wife of Job G. John, on charges of murdering their 14-year-old son, Jithu Job earlier this week.
The couple have a daughter, too, who told a local television channel that the mother may have feared that she was losing her son’s love towards her. Jayamol was taken into custody by the Chathannur police on Thursday.
The boy’s dismembered and charred body was found within the premises of the house. It is believed that he had just returned from visiting his paternal grandparents who live nearby, and on reaching his home picked up an argument with his mother.
Police are expected to question his father, sister and grandparents, too, to get to the reason behind the mother allegedly committing such a crime.
The family lives near Kottiyam, and the parents had lodged a complaint on Tuesday about their son having gone missing. The body was found on Wednesday. Since there were no bloodstains, police believe the boy may have been asphyxiated, burnt and then the body dismembered.
Burns on Jayamol’s hands and her contradictory statements led police to suspect her hand in the murder. There are reports that she was of unstable mind, and police are also investigating the likely involvement of other persons in the murder.
The teenager’s father had been at work when the incident happened, and he told police that when he reached home his wife had said that their son had gone out. He then launched a search for the boy with the help of neighbours and then lodged a missing complaint with the police.
Earlier this week, the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court had handed a double life-term to a woman named Rani for conniving in the rape and murder of her four-year-old daughter. The first accused in the case, and Rani’s paramour Ranjith, was awarded death sentence and his friend Basil was also given a double life-term in the case.
Rani’s husband was in prison when the incident occurred in 2013. Ranjith and Basil are believed to have brutally abused the child before murdering her.
