Was Abhiram murder accused really 17? Family demands age test; police to take two more into custody

Thiruvananthapuram: A court has granted police custody of two accused in the murder of student Abhiram at Pangappara, Sreekaryam, to facilitate further questioning and detailed evidence collection.

The investigation team took the second accused, Umar (22), a native of Kallambally in Sreekaryam, and the third accused, Anandha (18), from Manacaud, into custody on Saturday evening.

Police plan to question the second accused, Umar, and the third accused, Anandha, together, as they have allegedly been changing their statements frequently and attempting to mislead investigators. The team is also trying to recover mobile phones used by the accused, Abhiram's phone and the clothes worn by those involved in the crime.

The police said they would take the first accused, a 17-year-old boy, and the fourth accused, Aishwarya, a native of Akkulam and Umar's girlfriend, into custody on Monday for further questioning and evidence collection.

The accused will be taken to the crime scene and the places where they allegedly stayed while absconding as part of the second phase of evidence collection. Investigators are also examining whether more people were involved in the murder.

According to the police, the first accused used Anandha's Instagram account to lure Abhiram to a spot near a banana plantation at Peroor in Pangappara on November 1. He allegedly assaulted and killed the student. The accused had reportedly planned to target one of Abhiram's friends, but Abhiram became the victim.

The 17-year-old first accused is currently lodged at the observation home in Poojappura.
Also read | Abhiram murder: Second accused Umar’s female friend detained; what police suspect about her role

Family questions age of first accused

Meanwhile, Abhiram's family has raised doubts about the age of the first accused, whom the police have identified as a minor. The family claims that the boy is actually an adult and has questioned whether his age is being deliberately understated to help him avoid harsher punishment in the serious murder case.

The family has demanded scientific tests to establish his actual age. It has also called for a fresh and detailed examination of his birth certificate and school admission records.

According to the relatives, the accused was senior to Abhiram at school. They also claim that local residents believe he has already turned 18.

The accused had no prior acquaintance with the victim. However, some of Abhiram's friends reportedly knew the first accused.

The family is also worried that the failure to recover crucial evidence, including Abhiram's clothes and mobile phone, could weaken the case or affect the investigation.

Their suspicions have been heightened by the considerable distance between the location where Abhiram's phone was found switched off and the place where his body was later recovered.

Abhiram's parents and sister have appealed for justice, insisting that the accused should not escape appropriate punishment by receiving the benefit of being treated as a minor.

His mother, who had gone abroad to work as a domestic worker two years ago to fulfil the family's dream of owning a house, returned to Kerala after learning that her son was missing.

Although the family has not directly accused the police of lapses in the investigation, it fears that the failure to recover important evidence could affect the case.
Also read | Abhiram murder: ‘Victim shared Insta account with a girl’; cops suspect more culprits as chats vanish

Police say age verification completed

Responding to the family's allegations, Sreekaryam police said they had conducted a detailed inquiry and completed the examination of documents relating to the first accused's age.

According to the police, the accused is currently 17-and-a-half years old and has not yet turned 18.

The investigation team plans to take the accused into custody, question them further and complete the evidence collection to strengthen the case.