VADAKKEKAD: The grandson who fled after killing his grandparents at home was arrested by the police within hours. The deceased are Vailathur native Abdullah (75) and his wife Jamila (64). Muhammad Akmal (27) alias Munna, who lived with them, was arrested from Mangalore in the afternoon. Akmal had been living with his grandparents.

Akmal, who was undergoing treatment at the mental health drug addiction centre in Tirur, returned home four months ago. It was Abdullah's son Naushad who first saw the dead bodies when he came with food at around 9 am yesterday. Jamila's severed head was found abandoned near the stairs. Abdullah's body was lying on the bed with his throat cut. The police concluded that the murder took place between midnight and 4 am. Akmal fled the house soon after committing the murder. It was the Karnataka police that caught him from Mangalore in the afternoon with Jamila's gold ornaments. He was caught by the police while trying to sell the gold. Upon receiving the information, the investigation team reached Mangalore and took Akmal into custody.

Committed murders while grandparents were sleeping
There were no signs of violence in Abdullah's house. It is believed that the elderly couple were killed while they were sleeping. The machete used for the murder was recovered from the house. The front door of the house was closed when Naushad, who lives nearby, arrived in the morning. He broke the door open as his parents did not respond despite his repeated calls. Akmal is the son of Abdullah's eldest daughter Nimitha. Nimitha is currently living in Kollam with her second husband. According to locals, Akmal used to quarrel with his grandparents asking for money and other stuff.