January 29, 2025: A brutal double murder in Nenmara town has sent shockwaves through Kerala's Palakkad district, leaving the local community in turmoil. Sudhakaran, aged 55, and his 75-year-old mother Lakshmi were stabbed to death in their own home on Monday by their neighbor, Chenthamara, who had been out on bail after being charged with the 2019 murder of Sudhakaran’s wife, Sajitha.

Following a tense 36-hour search, police arrested Chenthamara, who had been evading capture by hiding in the dense forests surrounding the area. His arrest sparked public protests outside the local police station, leading to a minor clash with authorities as they sought to maintain control.

Sudhakaran’s daughters, Akhila and Athulya, are grieving the devastating loss of both their mother and father in such violent circumstances. “He killed our mother in 2019 and was in jail. Then he came out and killed our father and grandmother. He is arrested now, but he will be released again and kill more people. He needs to be hanged,” Akhila said, voice trembling with grief and anger.

The motive for Chenthamara’s killings appears to be tied to long-held grudges. Police report that Chenthamara harbored suspicions that Sudhakaran would seek vengeance for his wife’s death, prompting him to target both Sudhakaran and his mother. Chenthamara had previously believed that his wife had abandoned him due to witchcraft allegedly performed by Sudhakaran’s family, which fueled his resentment and led to the murder of Sajitha in 2019. After her death, Sudhakaran remarried, and his new family narrowly escaped the violence when Chenthamara struck again on Monday.

Chenthamara, in police custody, has confessed to the crime, claiming that he had planned the double murder in advance, even purchasing the weapon specifically for this act of vengeance. According to reports, he had also been plotting to kill his estranged wife as part of his ongoing revenge.

The police, who had been tracking Chenthamara's movements, finally closed in on him after a clever trap. Believing the search had been called off, Chenthamara ventured out of hiding to collect supplies, only to be caught by police officers waiting for him.

As news of the arrest spread, local residents voiced their anger, demanding stricter justice and raising questions about why authorities did not act on concerns about Chenthamara’s return to the neighborhood. The investigation is ongoing, with police considering taking Chenthamara to the crime scene for a reconstruction of the brutal murders.

Chenthamara will be produced in court today, where he will face charges for the murders.