Share dispute: Man beaten to death by younger brother

AMBALAPUZHA: A man beat his sleeping brother to death with a stick for not paying his share of the family property. Santhosh alias Dukharthan (45), son of the late Kochu Keshavan Thottungal in Puthuval in Kakkazham Vyasa Junction in the first ward of Ambalapuzha South. Ambalapuzha police arrested his brother Sibi (42).

According to police, Suresh, who was sleeping in an empty house on the beach at around 2.30 pm yesterday, was hit on the head by a rod. The locals rushed Santosh to Alappuzha Medical College Hospital in a 108 ambulance but could not save him. The two fishermen used to quarrel over alcohol. The locals have lodged several complaints against them, police said.

Their mom Rathi and Santhosh were staying with Siby at a place of three cents. Wives of both had quarreled and left years ago. Their only sister Sudha lives with her husband Premachandran. Sibi had asked Santhosh for Rs 1 lakh as his share. Their mother Rathi said that the two were constantly arguing over this. Sibi, who fled after the incident, was taken into police custody from the west side of the Ambalapuzha Gabies pump. The body is in the mortuary of Alappuzha Medical College Hospital.