'Why would I kill him?' Instagram account deleted after post goes viral; probe ongoing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police are intensively probing the Sreekaryam murder case to see whether more people were involved in the crime. Authorities are currently examining a post shared on Instagram by a girl following Abhiram’s death, as well as a video showing a verbal altercation that took place between Abhiram and several others the day before the murder.

The girl made the post shortly after Abhiram’s body was discovered. In it, she wrote: "I did not summon him to be killed. Why is everyone asking if it was me who called him over? If the intention was to kill him, why would I waste my time loving him? I have done nothing wrong." The Instagram account was subsequently deleted, and police are now working to recover it. Police have identified the girl and confirmed that she will be questioned.

A video also emerged showing another group intercepting and arguing with Abhiram on the day before he was killed. The police obtained this video, which had been circulating in WhatsApp groups belonging to Abhiram’s friends. The police are currently working to identify the individuals seen in the video.

17-year-old Abhiram, son of Madhu—an auto-rickshaw driver—and Dharmaja, natives of Netaji Lane in Sangeetha Nagar, Pangappara, was strangled to death by another minor over issues that spiralled from a relationship with another girl. Abhiram was a first-year Humanities student at the NSS Higher Secondary School, near MG College. The first accused is a 17-year-old from Peroor, Sreekaryam. The second accused, Umar Muftar (22) of Puthuval Veedu, Kallampally, is an individual with a criminal history that includes cases registered under the KAAPA (Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act). The third accused is 18-year-old Ananda, a native of Sreevaraham, Manacaud.