Capital punishment for three including woman in Vizhinjam Shanthakumari murder case 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The court awarded capital punishment to the three accused in the case of killing Shanthakumari (71) of Mulloor in Vizhinjam. The accused strangulated her and then bludgeoned her using a hammer before fleeing after stealing her ornaments. Death penalty was awarded to the first accused Rafeeqa Beevi of Vizhinjam Township Colony, second accused, her friend Al Ameen (27) of Pattambi and the third accused Shafeeque (27), Beevi’s son. The quantum of sentence was pronounced by Neyyattinkara additional sessions court.

The Neyyattinkara additional district judge A M Basheer had earlier found the three guilty. The incident happened on January 14 in 2022. The three summoned Shanthakumari, who was staying alone, to their rented home and then strangulated her with a shawl, bludgeoned her using a hammer and then stole her ornaments. Shanthakumari was wife of late Nagappa Panicker. She leaves behind her children Sanal Kumar and Sivakala.

The accused, who tried to escape after hiding her body between the attic and the asbestos roof, were caught by the Vizhinjam police from Kazhakoottam. They were trying to escape to Kozhikode. The charge sheet was filed by Vizhinjam SHO Prajeesh Shasi, sub inspectors Ajith Kumar, K L Sampath and G Vinod under the leadership of Fort assistant commissioner S Shaji.