Fondness for Halwa, Instagram reels and violence; Aluva Athul's fiefdom of cruelty

KOLLAM: A total of eight were arrested in the murder of goon ‘Aluva’ Athul near Karunagappally in Kollam yesterday. Athul was a history-sheeter and ruthless when it came to committing violence. He had an unquenchable liking for the Halwa, a fudgy confection popular in South India. This led to people giving him the moniker Halwa Athul, which changed to Aluva Athul due to the variations brought in by the local dialect.

Along with his fondness for the sweet, Athul also carried a cruel pleasure in breaking the knees of his rivals using a hammer. Police say that this is done to ensure that his nemesis never walks again. Athul's yearning for a superhero status, inappropriate for his age, led him to put reels on Instagram, where he often challenged his rival groups. Athul used to be a menace even for the police, as the youngster often created pandemonium inside the cell.

The date March 27, 2025, still haunts Omana. The senile woman who was sleeping at her house saw Athul barging into her room. Soon, the youngster went to the other room and threw a bomb inside. Omana later witnessed her son, Gym Santhosh, being hacked by a gang led by Athul. The violence was gruesome enough that the dismembered body parts were scattered across the house. Santhosh was rushed to the hospital, but he died a few hours later.

Athul got out on bail a few days back in the same case and was returning after putting his signature at the police station when a gang ambushed him in a car and carried out the attack. The notorious goon died on the spot.