Mannar fire; son arrested for burning elderly parents to death; serious offences charged

ALAPPUZHA: Police have registered the arrest of Vijayan in the case of killing his elderly parents by setting their house in Mannar on fire. Serious sections including murder and arson have been charged against Vijayan. The accused will be produced before the magistrate tomorrow. The police said that preliminary evidence collection was conducted today.

The house was found completely burnt at around 3 am this morning. The bodies of the couple were found during a check. Raghavan (92), a native of Chennithala, Alappuzha, and his wife Bharathi (90) died. The information was reported to the police by locals. Police said that petrol was poured inside and outside the house and set on fire. Only the elderly couple was present in the house at the time of the incident.

Vijayan, who fled after committing the crime, was caught by locals and police from a distance of 300 meters. The accused confessed to the crime during the interrogation conducted by District Police Chief M.P. Mohanachandran, Chengannur DySP M.K. Binu Kumar, Mannar SHO Aneesh and SI Abhiram. Vijayan's plan was to commit suicide after committing the murder, but the police caught him before that.

Only the couple lived in the house. Vijayan used to visit occasionally. Last month, Vijayan had beaten and fractured Raghavan's hand. The elderly Raghavan then filed a complaint with the police. Vijayan's statement was that a property dispute was behind the brutality. Neighbours and relatives had said that Vijayan used to come drunk and start fights. Vijayan's sister's son Vishnu told the media that Vijayan had beaten the elderly couple two days ago.