PALAKKAD: Accused Chenthamara gave a detailed account of the double murder in Nenmara, the escape route and the hiding place during the evidence collection. He was taken into custody for evidence collection yesterday. Heavy security was imposed in view of the protests of the locals.
Evidence was collected in the Pothundi Boyan Colony where the murder took place and also in the area where he fled. Chenthamara said that his neighbour Sudhakaran saw him holding a billhook and reversed his vehicle. He attacked Sudhakaran in the provocation. At this time, Lakshmi, who was standing in front of the house, started making noise, and Chenthamara attacked her too.
Then Chenthamara entered the house with weapons. After leaving the billhook and the broken wood piece at home, he came out through the back and ran through the paddy field. He suffered a minor injury when he jumped over the wire fence. Chenthamara stayed in a small ditch in the paddy field all day. When it got dark, he walked through the paddy field to Arakkamala. At night, he slept under a rock in the forest area. Chenthamara moved to the top of the mountain after seeing the police vehicle and flashlights approaching. The accused explained that he had dumped his mobile phone and SIM card in the bushes. The custody period is until 3 pm today. The accused will be taken to the shop in Elappully where he bought the billhook and evidence will be collected today.
Caught in front of elephant
Chenthamara said that he was caught in front of an elephant while going into the forest to escape. The accused said during the evidence collection that he had suddenly run away and hid on the other side of the hills.
Heavy police presence
The accused was brought for evidence collection with an escort of eight police vehicles. Considering the public anger, 373 policemen, including three DySPs and 11 CIs, were deployed for security. Barricades were set up on the way to the accused's house. There was drone surveillance as well. The women were enraged when they saw Chenthamara.
'He made gestures meaning he will kill me'
During the evidence, a neighbour, Pushpa, told the media that the accused Chenthamara made gestures that meant he will kill her. "My hands and legs trembled as soon as I saw him. If he had had a chance, he would have killed me too. He has no sense of guilt. Now I am afraid to live here. I am thinking of moving away. I have come to hate it here," Pushpa said.