In a major verdict, Greeshma, the prime accused in the Sharon Raj murder case, has been sentenced to death. The case involved Greeshma poisoning Sharon by lacing a herbal concoction with pesticide. The crime took place on October 14, 2022, and Sharon succumbed to the poisoning 11 days later while undergoing treatment in a hospital.

This sentence brings to memory Kerala's last execution, which took place in 1991 when ‘Ripper’ Chandran was hanged for a series of gruesome murders. Chandran earned the chilling moniker for his method of killing—breaking into houses and bludgeoning 14 people to death with a crowbar during robberies.

The tale of ‘Ripper’ Chandran: A reign of terror 

Chandran's criminal journey began at the age of 14 with petty thefts. Hailing from Nileswaram in Kasaragod, he later shifted to Karnataka, where he escalated to more heinous crimes. The locals in his hometown mistook him for a businessman due to his occasional visits with cash and valuables.

On September 10, 1985, Chandran carried out his first "Ripper-style" attack, targeting poorly secured houses near highways and railway tracks, often selecting homes without male occupants. The residents of Kannur and Kasaragod districts lived in fear, locking themselves indoors at night. For children, the mention of ‘Ripper’ Chandran was enough to induce obedience and send them to bed.

Over the span of a year, Chandran killed 14 people, spreading terror across the region. His spree ended when he was apprehended by the police within a week of his final murder. Convicted and sentenced to death, he spent four years in solitary confinement at Kannur Central Jail while appealing his sentence. Both the Supreme Court and the President rejected his appeals for clemency. 

On July 6, 1991, Chandran was hanged, with the district jail superintendent stepping in as the executioner due to the absence of a professional hangman.

A rare punishment in Kerala 

While the death penalty remains rare in Kerala, this latest sentence reignites discussions about justice and capital punishment. Several convicts on death row in the state await the outcome of appeals in higher courts.  

Greeshma’s case and the echoes of ‘Ripper’ Chandran's past serve as stark reminders of Kerala's most chilling crimes and the severe consequences that follow.