'Dad, I'll be back in 10 minutes': Kerala teen returns dead; Hometown weeps over Abhiram's murder

Thiruvananthapuram: “Dad, I'll be back in 10 minutes...” Those were the final words spoken by M D Abhiram to his father Madhukumar, before he was murdered in Pangappara. Hours later, the family received the tragic news of his death.

On Sunday, when Abhiram left home saying he was going to meet a friend, his father had reminded him to return quickly so they could attend a wedding together later that evening. However, as time passed, Abhiram failed to return. When his father called him, Abhiram spoke in an out-of-breath voice, reassuring him that he would be back within 10 minutes. His father later recalled that he sounded as though he had been running, unaware that his son was frantically trying to escape from danger.

Eventually, the family attended the wedding without him. Returning around 9 pm to find Abhiram still missing, they launched a search and lodged a complaint with the police. Abhiram had previously told his father that he was going to meet someone regarding a text message he received, and he had shared a female friend's contact number. This detail led investigators to the girl. The breakthrough came when she clarified that she was unaware of the phone message sent to Abhiram, noting that her phone was in the possession of a 17-year-old male friend.

Both the victim and the accused teenager had previously studied together at a school in Chavadimukku, Sreekaryam. At the time of the incident, Abhiram was a Plus One student at Kesavadasapuram NSS Higher Secondary School.

“Did they really have to kill my child?” cried his mother, Dharmaja, her voice echoing beside the bicycle her son had parked against the wall. Relatives and neighbours stood in sorrowful silence as she wept at their rented house in Nethaji Lane, Pangappara. Dharmaja had arrived from abroad late Monday night after learning that her son was missing.

The family had been living in the rented accommodation for 10 years. Dharmaja had taken up employment overseas with the dream of building a home for her son. She had last seen him during the recent Onam festival.

Abhiram's family comprises his father, mother, grandmother, sister, brother-in-law and their daughter. His sister, Arya, who is 12 years older than him and works as a nurse in Saudi Arabia, was someone Abhiram looked up to like a mother.

His parents said that he had never mentioned the accused friend or the girl he met through Instagram. They believe that had there been any major developments in his life, he would have shared them with his elder sister.

Known for his friendly nature, Abhiram's sudden demise has shocked the local community. “My son grew up playing on this ground. Who can I trust now? They killed my child,” grieved Dharmaja, leaving onlookers heartbroken.