Thiruvananthapuram: Youth beaten up by lover's kin goes missing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 25-year-old man has gone missing after he went to meet his girlfriend near Azhimala temple at Vizhinjam on Saturday.
Kiran M, son of Madhu of Vallottukonam near Mottamoodu at Pravachambalam, along with his friends Ananthu (18) and Melvin (17) had gone to Azhimala temple.
Kiran's girlfriend's house is near the temple, and the trio went close to her house. Seeing her in front of the house, Kiran waved at her.
Noticing this, her brother, Hari, and brother-in-law, Rajesh, stopped them and questioned him about their affair, and they allegedly beat up Kiran and Ananthu.
Later, Rajesh took Ananthu and Melvin to a place in a car and warned them not to come to that area again.
Meanwhile, Hari took Kiran on a two-wheeler in another direction, and no one has seen Kiran since.
Kiran's friends alleged that he was beaten up for having an affair with the girl. Ananthu tried calling Kiran, but his mobile phone was switched off.
With his son not returning home, Kiran's father registered a case at Naruvamoodu police station on Saturday.
When police checked the tower location, it was found that he was last seen in Vizhinjam and Vizhinjam police were alerted.
In the meantime, an autorickshaw driver, who had come to drop passengers at the temple, reportedly saw a man falling into the sea near Azhimala temple.
The auto driver's statement and CCTV footage of a resort nearby helped police confirm that it was Kiran who had fallen into the sea.
Police also found Kiran's footwear on the seashore, and it was then that the friends informed the police of the entire incident. However, police are unsure whether Kiran has drowned or not.
Vizhinjam police who started an investigation, said that Hari and Rajesh have been absconding since the incident. Vizhinjam coastal police have also begun a search for Kiran.
Vizhinjam police registered a man missing case under Section 57 of the Kerala Police Act.