'There is no one even to give my daughter porridge after childbirth': Sivankutty Chettiyar's wife breaks down outside mortuary

ALAPPUZHA: Still struggling to come to terms with her husband's murder, Saraswathi, the wife of Sivankutty Chettiyar, broke down outside the mortuary at Vandanam Medical College Hospital. In a tragic coincidence, she was waiting for her husband's body at the same hospital where her daughter had recently given birth.

When Sivankutty's body was brought out of the mortuary, Saraswathi was the only family member waiting outside. She had spent hours there alone, torn between waiting for her husband's body and caring for her daughter, who was recovering in the maternity ward.

“There is no one even to give my daughter porridge after childbirth,” she cried. Saraswathi had been looking forward to her daughter returning home with her newborn baby when the family was suddenly struck by tragedy. With no one else available to stay with her daughter, she eventually left the mortuary and returned to the maternity ward.

Her daughter and son-in-law had been living abroad, and she had returned to Kerala for the delivery. After learning about her father's death, Sivankutty's elder daughter, who is also abroad, began her journey back home.

Sivankutty was found dead inside his house on Monday while Saraswathi was at the hospital with their daughter. Police said his 13-year-old granddaughter had allegedly hired her boyfriend to kill him.

The granddaughter (a Class 8 student), her boyfriend (a Plus Two student from Paravur), and two of their 17-year-old friends have been arrested in connection with the murder. According to Alappuzha District Police Chief T K Vishnu Pradeep, the crime was allegedly committed to steal six sovereigns of gold, with the money allegedly intended to buy an iPhone for the girl.