Thiruvananthapuram: Affan, a 23-year-old man, has confessed to the brutal murder of six people, including his mother, younger brother, and girlfriend, in a killing spree spanning three houses in Venjaramoodu. The crime, committed within two hours, saw him travel 34 kilometres to carry out the killings.
Disturbing details emerged, including the discovery of ₹500 notes scattered near the body of his 14-year-old brother, Afsan. Police suspect financial distress and personal conflicts as possible triggers for the massacre.
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Three victims were found in a house in Perumala, Venjaramoodu, with severe head and facial injuries. Afsan’s body lay in the living room, surrounded by cash. Their mother, Shemi, was discovered critically injured in another room and was rushed to hospital. Meanwhile, Affan’s girlfriend, Farsana, was found dead in a chair upstairs.
Before murdering Afsan, Affan reportedly bought him kuzhi mandi from a hotel in Venjaramoodu. Locals claim this was his last act before launching his killing spree.
Farsana left home for tuition and never returned
Farsana, a postgraduate student in Kollam, had told her family she was going for tuition but is believed to have accompanied Affan home instead. Investigators suspect an argument broke out when they arrived, possibly over marriage. Neighbours reported seeing her near Affan’s house days earlier.
No one heard the screams
Despite the violent nature of the murders, neighbours claimed they heard no screams, even though the victims were reportedly bludgeoned with a hammer. The crime only came to light after police and emergency teams arrived.
Affan had locked his Perumala house before heading to the police station. Before surrendering, he also opened a gas cylinder inside the house.
Shocking confession at police station
At around 7 pm, Affan walked into the Venjaramoodu police station and confessed to the murders. Initially, officers dismissed his claims, but his detailed account, including the locations and identities of the victims, prompted an immediate inspection.
When police arrived at Affan’s house in Perumala, they broke in, shut off the gas cylinder, and discovered the crime scene. Ambulances were dispatched to retrieve the bodies and transport Shemi to hospital.
A 34-kilometre killing spree in two hours
Affan’s movements during the killing spree spanned 34 kilometres. He first travelled 14 kilometres from his Perumala home to Kallara-Pangode, where he murdered his grandmother, Salma Beevi. He then covered seven kilometres to Chullalam, where he killed his father’s brother, Latheef, and Latheef’s wife, Shahida. Finally, he returned to Perumala and killed his mother, brother, and girlfriend.
After completing the murders, Affan took an auto-rickshaw to the Venjaramoodu police station and surrendered. Police revealed that the victims' faces were brutally disfigured beyond recognition, all attacked with a hammer.
Was the motive money or love?
Investigators are trying to establish the exact motive. Affan’s initial statement to the police suggested financial distress led him to kill his family. However, police remain sceptical.
They are also probing whether a rejected marriage proposal played a role. Another angle being explored is his business failure. Affan reportedly told police he was burdened with ₹75 lakh in debt, having suffered losses in a business abroad.
He allegedly confessed to initially planning a mass suicide with his family. He first attempted to strangle his mother but failed. A plan to consume poison was also abandoned out of fear that some family members might survive. Instead, he purchased a hammer in Venjaramoodu and began his killing spree.
Suspicions of drug use
Affan’s brutality and the speed of the killings have led police to suspect possible drug use. Locals, shocked by the incident, expressed disbelief that financial stress alone could have driven him to commit mass murder. Some questioned why he chose to kill rather than take his own life if debt was the sole reason.
MLA D.K. Murali, who visited the crime scenes, has urged a thorough investigation into potential drug involvement and other contributing factors behind the killings.
Published: 25 Feb 2025, 08:12 am IST
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