Seven Arrested for Allegedly Beating Mentally Ill Man to Death in Kerala

Police arrested the prime accused, Kathiresan, a resident of Moolakkadavu, along with six others identified as Naveen, Karthik, Sanjay, Prasanth, Manikandan and Suryaprakash. Police traced the suspects after examining CCTV footage. Six of the seven accused are under 30.

According to police, the victim, who is suspected to have been suffering from mental illness and may also have had a speech impairment, was targeted because he allegedly continued to sleep outside Kathiresan’s house despite repeated warnings to stay away.

The incident is suspected to have taken place on Saturday evening. Investigators said the accused, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, spotted the man while drinking at a toddy shop. They reportedly chased him for nearly half a kilometre, throwing stones at him before cornering him near Moolathara Dam and attacking him with wooden logs and stones.

Police said the assault continued even after the man fell to the ground near the Moolathara regulator. In a particularly disturbing allegation, the accused are said to have poured liquor into the injured man’s mouth when he asked for water.

Local residents found the man dead near Moolathara Dam at around 8.30 a.m. on Sunday and alerted the police. A post-mortem examination conducted at Thrissur Medical College Hospital confirmed that he had been murdered. The report attributed his death to internal bleeding caused by the severe assault.

The victim’s body bore bruises and injuries across several parts, including serious wounds on his face resembling injuries caused by stone blows. Police have not yet established his identity.

Police have extended their search to neighbouring Tamil Nadu in an effort to identify the deceased and are investigating whether additional people were involved in the killing.

The Meenakshipuram police are investigating the case under the supervision of Chittur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sasidharan. The seven arrested men are accused in the case, and the investigation is ongoing.