Brutal Triple Murder In Kerala's Kochi, Accused Taken Into Custody.

Kochi, Kerala: A gruesome triple murder shook the town of Chendamangalam in North Paravoor, Kochi, on Thursday.

The victims, Venu (65), his wife Usha (62), and their daughter Vinisha (32), were hacked to death by their neighbour, Rithu Jayan (28), in a brutal attack. Vinisha’s husband, Jithin, suffered critical injuries and is undergoing treatment at Aster Medcity.

The police have arrested Rithu, who has a history of criminal cases against him. According to the police, Rithu had been involved in a long-standing feud with Venu’s family, primarily due to his alleged drug use.

The dispute escalated when Venu’s family and other neighbours filed a police complaint against Rithu three months ago. Although Rithu’s family had convinced the police that he was not causing further trouble, he had allegedly threatened to kill Venu’s family by setting them on fire.

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On Thursday, Rithu trespassed into Venu’s house, armed with a hatchet and an iron pipe. He entered into an argument with Jithin and attacked him.

When Vinisha, Venu, and Usha tried to intervene, Rithu hacked them to death. The police said Rithu was not under the influence of drugs when he committed the murders.

Vijayan, a neighbour who reached the scene after the attack, described the horrific aftermath. “The door was open. Venu was lying there, struggling to breathe. Nearby, Jithin was down, and Vinisha and Usha were in the hall,” he said.

Vijayan added that the house was full of blood, and Vinisha’s children, Aradhika and Awani, were crying in fear, calling out for their parents.

After the crime, Rithu fled the scene but was later intercepted by the police while riding a two-wheeler without a helmet.

The police have booked Rithu under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including house trespassing, murder, and attempted murder.

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Ernakulam Rural Police Chief Vaibhav Saxena said Rithu was involved in multiple cases, including a drugs case in Thrissur and a motorcycle theft case in Kochi city.

Local compatriots described Rithu as a troublemaker who was involved in similar clashes before. Kizhakkumpuram ward member Divya Unnikrishnan said the police knew about Rithu’s actions and had regularly contacted her to ask about him.