THAMARASSERI: The crime branch has started exhuming the mortal remains of six persons (all close relatives) from their graves at Koodathayi to crack the mystery over their suspicious deaths. All the six died under similar circumstances and their suspicion arose after one of the relatives lodged a complaint to the police. The crime branch reached the cemetery of Kodenchery St Marys Forona Church and examined.

In an attempt to crack the mystery over the suspicious death of six persons, including three from a family between 2002 and 2014, the Crime Branch has decided to exhume the mortal remains of four of the victims from their graves at Koodathayi in Kozhikode district. The graves of Sily and her two-year-old daughter were opened first.

The graves are being opened to find the reason for the death of the six. Forensic experts will examine the body remains of the six under the presence of the RDO.

Annamma Thomas was the first to die in 2002 followed by her husband Tom Thomas’ death in 2008. Later, their son Roy Thomas died in 2011and his death was followed by the death of Mathew, Anamma’s brother, who died in 2014. In the same year, two relatives, a woman and her two-year old child died under similar circumstances. The probe is being conducted on the complaint of Tom Thomas’ son Rojo who is in the USA.

Police said all of them died after they had suddenly collapsed and linked the deaths to heart ailments. Only Roy Thomas’s body had undergone autopsy during which some poisonous substances were recovered from his stomach which the police wrote it off as a suicide.