Published Oct 14, 2026 | 11:48 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 14, 2026 | 11:48 AM
Image used for representational purpose. (Photo | istock.com)
Resentment over a mentally challenged man repeatedly sleeping in the courtyard of a house is believed to have triggered the brutal mob killing of an unidentified man near Moolathara Dam in Chittoor, police said.
Seven people, including prime accused Kathiresan of Moolakkadavu, have been arrested in connection with the murder of the 40-year-old man, who is suspected to be mute. The other accused are Naveen, Karthik, Sanjay, Prashanth, Manikandan and Suryaprakash.
According to police, a grudge over the victim repeatedly sleeping in the courtyard of Kathiresan’s house despite being told not to led to the fatal attack.
The accused, who were allegedly under the influence of alcohol, first spotted the man walking past while they were drinking at a toddy shop. They chased him for nearly half a kilometre, pelting him with stones, before cornering him near the dam and assaulting him with wooden logs and stones.
The gang allegedly continued to strike the man on the face and head even after he fell to the ground. In a particularly disturbing detail, police said the injured man asked for water, but the assailants poured toddy into his mouth instead.
Residents found the body in an isolated area near Moolathara Dam around 8.30 am on Sunday. The victim had injuries across his body.
A post-mortem examination at Thrissur Government Medical College Hospital confirmed that he had been murdered, with internal bleeding believed to have caused his death.
The case was initially investigated as a suspicious death, but the post-mortem findings revealed the extent of the assault. Police have classified it as a mob killing.
An investigation team led by Chittoor Deputy Superintendent of Police Shashidharan is probing the case.
The accused were taken to the crime scene to collect evidence.
The victim’s identity remains unknown. Police have launched inquiries in Tamil Nadu to establish his identity and trace his background.
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(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
