Possessiveness, drugs and revenge: Police examine all angles in rape-murder of Malappuram girl

Malappuram, Kerala: Police investigating the alleged murder of a 14-year-old Class IX girl in Malappuram are examining whether anyone else, besides her 16-year-old classmate, was involved in the incident.

The accused, a Class XI student, initially claimed he acted alone, but police are probing the case further.

The schoolgirl, who went missing on Thursday, was found dead in an isolated thicket near the railway track at Thodiyapulam. She had left home for school that morning but did not return in the evening, prompting her family to file a complaint with Karuvarakundu police. Police, relatives and local residents launched a search soon afterwards.

When questioned on Thursday night, the girl’s 16-year-old friend initially denied knowing anything about her whereabouts. However, during further interrogation on Friday morning, he disclosed information that led police to the body at around 11.30 am. The victim was found in her school uniform, with her bag slung over her shoulder. Her hands had been tied, a cloth was forced into her mouth, and there were injuries to her neck.

CCTV footage confirmed that the girl had reached the school gate on Thursday morning. Later that evening, at around 6 pm, she called her mother from another phone number, saying she would be home soon. Police traced the call location to Thodiyapulam, far from her home, but the phone was later switched off. Locals subsequently told police that the boy had also been seen in the same area.

During questioning, the boy gave contradictory statements. He first claimed the girl had been with him until 6.30 pm before boarding a train. He then said they had travelled together by train and parted ways at Thodiyapulam, later suggesting she had gone off with someone else. By Friday morning, he confessed to the crime and admitted assaulting her.

The girl’s family alleged the boy was addicted to drugs and that they had previously opposed the relationship, even lodging a complaint with police. Reports suggest the girl had agreed to end the relationship.

Investigation points to revenge motive

Police believe the killing stemmed from the boy’s suspicion and obsessive behaviour, which prompted him to exact revenge. The suspect, who studied at the same school as the victim, is alleged to have repeatedly threatened and harassed her. Both teenagers came from modest, middle-class families.

Relatives said they had earlier noticed the boy’s possessive conduct. He reportedly became agitated whenever he could not find the girl and would turn up at her home, causing distress. Following complaints from the family, police had previously warned him. The girl was said to be fearful of his volatile temper.

The boy reportedly forced the girl to accompany him after school on Thursday. When she did not return home, her mother filed a police complaint. After initial questioning that night, police instructed the boy to appear at the station with his father the next morning.

Suspicion led to strangling

Further questioning on Friday morning revealed the sequence of events. Police said the pair travelled by bus from Karuvarakundu to Vaniyambalam via Pandikkad and Wandoor. From there, they walked along the railway track to a secluded area. Suspecting the girl of being close to another person, the boy confronted her. During a heated argument, he allegedly tied her hands, gagged her, and strangled her to death.

The killing has left the local community shocked, raising troubling questions about teenage violence, substance abuse, and the fragile boundaries of adolescent relationships.

Senior officers, including Thrissur Range Inspector General Arul R B Krishna, visited the site and questioned the accused. Fingerprint experts and forensic teams also examined the scene.