Kottayam: There are indications that one person has been taken into custody in connection with the murder of a couple in Thiruvathukkal in Kottayam district. The person in custody is reported to be Amit, a native of Assam. He was taken into custody based on suspicion. It is also learnt that he had previously worked as a security guard at the residence of the victim, Vijayakumar.

Vijayakumar (64), owner of Indraprastham Auditorium in Kottayam and a businessman, and his wife Meera (60), were found murdered on Tuesday morning at their home near Eruthikkal Temple in Thiruvathukkal. The bodies were first found around 8:15 a.m. by a housemaid who had come to work. She informed the neighbours and the police.

Preliminary investigations by the police confirmed it to be a case of murder. Vijayakumar’s body was found in the hall, while Meera's was in the bedroom. Both were lying in a pool of blood, their faces disfigured, and the bodies were found in a naked state. Vijayakumar had suffered severe head injuries. A pickaxe and a grinding stone were recovered near the entrance of the house under suspicious circumstances.

Though the house had CCTV cameras, the hard disk was missing. Despite a pet dog in the house, it had not barked or shown any signs of disturbance, according to neighbours.

The migrant worker in custody had reportedly been dismissed recently from his job by Vijayakumar. Locals said he was fired for allegedly stealing a mobile phone. Sources suggest the suspect had previously been jailed over the incident and had been released just a few days ago. It is also reported that he came to Vijayakumar’s house the previous day and had an argument.

Kottayam SP Shahul Hameed confirmed to Mathrubhumi News that there are leads regarding a suspect. The couple lived alone. Their son passed away in 2018, and their daughter resides abroad. The investigation is focused on a particular individual based on some leads. The SP also mentioned that a previous case had been registered based on a complaint by Vijayakumar, and whether this is an act of revenge is being investigated.

No signs of forced entry, dog showed no reaction

Former ward councillor Tito, who visited the scene, told the media that there were no signs of forced entry on the door or elsewhere. He said it is possible that Vijayakumar opened the door after hearing a sound. The pickaxe and grinding stone were found on the floor near the front door. Vijayakumar’s body was in the hall, and that of his wife was in the bedroom. The dog did not bark and still shows no reaction, he added.

Crime may have been committed by someone familiar with the house: Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan

After visiting the scene, MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan told the media that the crime appears to have been committed by someone close to the household. The house had CCTV cameras, but the hard disk was missing. The dog did not bark when the perpetrator entered the house. Taking all this into account, it seems likely that the crime was carried out by someone either very familiar with the house or closely connected to the family.