'Vishnu was assaulted, Rashmi humiliated at hostel'; blade mafia behind Kottayam couple's suicide?

KOTTAYAM: The suicide of a couple in Erattupetta is believed to have been triggered by intimidation from blade mafia gangs. Koodappulam native Vishnu S. Nair (36) and his wife Rashmi Sukumaran (35) were found dead early this morning inside their rented house. According to initial reports, members of a blade mafia group from Kaduthuruthy had visited the couple’s home on Sunday and issued threats. Vishnu was allegedly assaulted by the gang. Family members claim that Rashmi, who stayed at a hostel for work, was also harassed and humiliated by the same group.

Vishnu, a building contractor and former Youth Congress mandalam president of Ramapuram, is believed to have fallen into financial trouble after the COVID-19 pandemic. The couple had borrowed money from the blade mafia and were paying high interest. Threats from the blade mafia reportedly intensified in recent days.

Police are investigating the case based on the family’s allegations. As part of the probe, they will examine CCTV footage from the house. The couple’s bodies were discovered with their hands tied using tape. Authorities suspect they may have taken their own lives by injecting a poisonous substance.

The couple had been living in the rented house for the past six months. On Monday morning, Vishnu’s mother tried to contact them but received no response. When she arrived at the house, she found the main door open, but the bedroom was locked from the inside.