Thiruvananthapuram Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) KS Sudarshan indicated that financial trouble could be the motive behind the murders.
Published Feb 25, 2025 | 7:51 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 25, 2025 | 2:03 PM
In a chilling incident, a 23-year-old man, Afan from Perumala in Thiruvanantgapuram, surrendered before the Venjaramoodu police, confessing to the brutal murder of six people, including his younger brother and girlfriend.
Synopsis: A man named Afan surrendered before the Venjaramoodu police confessing to the brutal murder of six people. Police have so far confirmed five deaths, while Afan’s mother remains in critical condition. The police are yet to identify the motive behind the murders.
The murder of five people and an attempted murder of another by a 23-year-old man in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala sent shockwaves through the state.
A man named Afan surrendered before the Venjaramoodu police late on Monday, 24 November confessing to the brutal murder of six people, including his younger brother. He informed the police that he had also consumed rat poison.
Police have so far confirmed five deaths, while Afan’s mother remains in critical condition at Gokulam Medical College Hospital.
According to the police, the gruesome killings unfolded on Monday evening in three different houses. Afan, from Perumala in Thiruvananthapuram, first attacked his 88-year-old grandmother, Salma Beevi, at her residence in Pangode, killing her with a hammer.
He then proceeded to his paternal uncle’s house in SN Puram, where he murdered his uncle Latheef and aunt Shahida. Returning to his own home in Perumala, he assaulted his younger brother Afsan (14), his mother Shemi, and his girlfriend Farsana.
His brother, a Class 9 student, succumbed to the injuries, while his mother was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. The entire massacre was reportedly carried out within two hours.
Meanwhile, police confirmed on Tuesday that there is evidence of drug use by Afan.
Police are continuing their investigation into the motive and circumstances surrounding the shocking crime. A few neighbours and acquaintances revealed that Afan had borrowed money from multiple people, and financial troubles had been haunting the family
Aji P, a panchayat representative, told South First, “The boy has a good reputation among his neighbours. He was the one taking care of his mother, a cancer patient, and would accompany her to the hospital for treatment. We have no idea what led to this incident, everyone is in shock.”
Reports say that the police will soon record the statement of Afan, as his condition is stable. Afan is undergoing treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital.
He remains in the 32nd pay ward under police surveillance, with his hands cuffed to the hospital bed rails after he attempted to remove the cannula.
A medical board, including psychologists, will be formed to oversee Afan’s treatment. According to police sources, he will be interrogated on Tuesday itself if he is discharged from the hospital. Afan reportedly told doctors that he did not use any drugs but had been consuming alcohol for the past month.
South Zone Inspector General (IG) of Police S Syamsundar informed the media that all the murders were committed using the same weapon, which has been recovered from the crime scene. The investigation will be led by three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs) and four Circle Inspectors (CIs).
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is set to be formed. The police also stated that it remains uncertain whether Afan was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crime, and further investigation is needed to determine this.
Thiruvananthapuram Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) KS Sudarshan indicated that financial trouble could be the motive behind the murders.
Locals crowded near a house where the murders took place.
Afan had previously worked in the Middle East, assisting his father’s small furniture business, and returned to India after the Covid-19 pandemic. There are indications that he has been struggling with severe financial difficulties since then, but the police have not confirmed this.
Reports suggest that he had approached his grandmother for her gold ornaments but was denied financial support by his relatives. In his statement, Afan claimed that this rejection drove him to commit the murders.
Afan was rushed to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram after his health deteriorated during interrogation.
Meanwhile, neighbours remain in shock, with some expressing confusion over Farsana’s presence in Afan’s home, as they were unaware if she had been living there or had just arrived that day.
However, police said that he took her to his home on Monday.
When South First contacted Venjaramoodu police, they stated that the exact motive behind the crime would only be confirmed after a thorough investigation.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
