Gang hurls bomb, hacks attempted murder accused to death at home in Kerala; Police suspect vendetta

Karunagappally: A man accused of attempted murder was brutally hacked to death by unidentified assailants at his residence near Karunagappally in Kollam during the early hours of Thursday. The deceased has been identified as Santhosh, a local resident. The attack occurred at approximately 2.30 am. Initial police investigations suggest the killing was driven by previous enmity. Reports indicate that the assailants entered the house and murdered Santhosh after hurling a bomb at his house.

Santhosh was accused of attempting to murder a man named Pankaj on November 13, 2024. He was in jail till recently in this connection. Police suspect that a vendetta linked to this case resulted in his murder. Authorities have gathered information suggesting that five attackers arrived in a white car.

Upon reaching the location, the gang hurled a bomb into Santhosh's house before forcefully kicking open the door. At the time, only Santhosh's mother was present in that room. The attackers then broke open the door to the next room, where Santhosh was. They first shattered his leg with a large hammer before severing his hand.

After inflicting severe injuries, the gang fled the scene. Following the attack, Santhosh managed to call a friend and inform him about the incident. However, by the time help arrived, he was bleeding excessively and in critical condition. He was rushed to the Government Taluk Hospital in Karunagappally, where he succumbed to his injuries.