House of horrors uncovered in Varkala father-son assault case; soundproof chamber, cache of weapons found 

KILIMANOOR: Police investigating the abduction and brutal assault of a father and son in Varkala have uncovered a soundproof room allegedly used to torture victims at a house in Vattavila, exposing what investigators describe as a carefully planned operation motivated by a rejected marriage proposal.

The house belongs to Vasumathi, the grandmother of the prime accused, Sudheesh, a native of Puliyarakonam. Although the building appeared to be an unfinished single-storey house from the outside, officers found a heavily reinforced room inside. The chamber was fitted with thick glass partitions and fibre-lined walls designed to prevent screams or other sounds from being heard outside.

A search of the premises led to the seizure of several items believed to have been used to intimidate and restrain victims. Police recovered imitation firearms, country-made firecrackers, dummy dynamite, knives, gunpowder, three sets of heavy-duty chains, multiple locks, plastic ropes, iron wire and face masks.

According to investigators, the attack was rooted in a marriage proposal that had been turned down by the victim's family. Sudheesh had allegedly approached Anilkumar, a resident of Vadasherikonam, seeking his daughter's hand in marriage. After Anilkumar rejected the proposal, the accused reportedly approached the family again, prompting Anilkumar to lodge a complaint with the Varkala police.

Anilkumar's son, Achu, told police that the gang developed a grudge against the family after two of its members were questioned in connection with the earlier complaint. The accused allegedly conspired to abduct the family and force Anilkumar's daughter, who works at Chennai airport, to return home and marry Sudheesh.

According to Achu, the plan unravelled when the gang allowed him to leave the house to bring his mother. Instead of returning, he alerted others about the abduction, leading to the victims being rescued.

Police said Anilkumar was subjected to severe torture while being held inside the room. The assailants allegedly beat him with a helmet, chained his hands and legs, tightened a motorcycle brake cable around his neck and repeatedly stabbed him with a screwdriver.

Achu was also allegedly assaulted. He was tied up with plastic rope, while his fingers were crushed with pliers, police said.

Anilkumar is undergoing treatment at the Varkala Taluk Hospital. Police are continuing their investigation into the incident and are examining the materials recovered from the house as part of the probe.