Thampanoor Lodge murder: Duo planned long journey, Rs 50,000 found from room

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The death of two people inside a lodge in Thampanoor sent shockwaves to many in the capital city. Kumar (52), a native of Peyad and Asha (42), a resident of SR Bhavan Cherupara was found dead inside the room on Sunday morning. According to police, Kumar killed Asha by slitting her throat and later committed suicide.

The police collected all the things in the lodge room where the murder took place. Like Asha, Kumar also had a lot of clothes in his bag. Officials also recovered Rs 50, 000 from Kumar’s pocket. It is doubted that the two might have planned a long journey, or a possible attempt to elope.

The police also suspect that the subsequent argument may have resulted in the murder. It has been confirmed that the bed sheet covered with Asha's body was not from the lodge but was brought by Kumar.

On Sunday morning, the staff knocked several times to clean the room, but there was no response. Thampanoor police reached the spot at 7 am and barged into the room to find the two dead bodies. Asha is a contract labourer at Pangode army camp. Her family consist of her husband and two children. Asha's husband, a daily wage labourer filed a complaint with Vilappilsala police after she failed to return from work on Saturday evening.

Asha had four cuts on her neck, which were stab wounds. The police said it was nothing short of a brutal murder. Two of these wounds are deep. In the postmortem report, it was found that Kumar also suffered a cut on his hands, possibly when Asha resisted or tried to escape. It was also confirmed that Kumar had hanged himself. Asha’s family had earlier warned her not to continue her friendship with Kumar. Asha and Kumar got close two years back and often conversed over phone.

The hotel manager confirmed that it was not the first time that the duo booked room in the hotel. The police started an investigation focusing on the phone calls of Kumar and Asha. Their phones will be handed over to the Cyber ​​Section for further verification.

Kumar is a reclusive character and seldom interacts with people. He does not have any friends and mostly leads a solitary life.

The investigation will be conducted under the supervision of Fort ACP Prasad and headed by CI Sreekumar of Thampanoor.