Accused confesses to crime in Ottapalam murder case, slits wrists to make it look like suicide, niece, sons held

PALAKKAD: The accused have confessed to the crime of murdering a 63-year-old woman identified as Khadeeja in Ottapalam. Police said Khadeeja’s niece Sheeja and her sons Yazir and the other a minor, are the three accused in the case. The accused will be produced in the court today.

Khadeeja, who was staying on the Ottapalam railway station road, was found dead last night. The body was found with a slit on her wrist. It was initially thought to be a suicide. However, police became suspicious after Sheeja and her family, who were staying with Khadeeja, were found missing. In a search, the police found them from a lodge in Ottapalam last night. On interrogation, they pleaded guilty.

Khadeeja had a fight with Sheeja in the name of stealing her ornaments. Sheeja had reached a jewellery shop in Ottappalam to sell the ornaments. On suspicion, the employees of the shop informed the police. In a search conducted, the police found that the ornaments belonged to Khadeeja. However, the police did not register a case after Khadeeja said she had no complaint as they were her relatives.

The crime was committed Thursday night at 8.30 pm. They choked her to death and then slit her wrists. They later disappeared from the house. The case was investigated by a team led by Shornur DySP V Suresh and Ottappalam circle inspector V Baburaj.