15 years since return from Middle East; Raghunathan commits suicide after stabbing his wife to death

MALLAPPALLY: A householder who stabbed his wife to death was found hanging near his house. Raghunathan (71) and his wife Sudha (62), who live near the Mallappally East Post Office, were found dead on the morning of Thiruvonam. The incident came to light when the couple's only son, Ajay, who lives in Ernakulam, asked his friend to check on his parents, as they had not answered the phone when he called them.

Sudha was found stabbed in the backyard of the house and Raghunathan was found hanging in a room that was part of the outdoor toilet. Sudha had a deep wound near her neck on the front. Sudha's body was found lying on the ground like she had fallen while trying to escape. Police said that it is believed that Raghunathan may have hanged himself after stabbing his wife. Raghunathan, who was in the Gulf, had returned to his hometown about 15 years ago. They did not have much cooperation with their neighbours and relatives.

Police, fingerprint experts and a scientific examination team led by District Special Branch DySP K.S. Vijayan, Ranni DySP R. Jayaraj and Keezhvaipur SHO Vipin Gopinath reached the spot. The bodies were cremated after the postmortem.