Man who killed elderly Kerala couple for revenge succumbs to burn injuries

The 75-year-old man, who killed an elderly couple in Kochalummoodu in Thiruvananthapuram’s Madavoor by setting them ablaze, also died succumbing to his burn injuries on Tuesday, October 4. Sasidharan Nair, 75, died after he sustained burns while setting ablaze the elderely couple Prabhakara Kurup and Vimalakumari on October 1. Sasidharan, an ex-serviceman, was under treatment after he sustained 85% burns.

Sasidharan killed the couple over a family dispute and a long-standing revenge of 29 years. According to police, Kurup had arranged a visa and job opportunity for Sasidharan’s son in Bahrain in 1993. But upon reaching Bahrain, the young man found out that he was cheated; contrary to his expectations, he was given a rather low-paying job. The young man had then died by suicide.

After this, an enmity developed between the two men, prompting Sasidharan to file a police complaint against Kurup. However, the latter was acquitted by the court recently. The police believe that this might have triggered Sasidharan to commit the murders. Sasidharan hit the couple using a hammer, after a heated argument that day and later set them ablaze. Kurup died on the spot on Saturday, October 1, and Vimalakumari died later that day at Thiruvananthapuram medical college while undergoing treatment.

Eyewitnesses had noticed Sasidharan outside the house on October 1, with his clothes completely burned. The neighbours, who ran to the couple’s house after hearing a voice, said that they helped Sasidharan first, who later went inside the couple’s house and came out wearing Kurup’s clothes. Kurup and Vimala at the time were inside the house lying in a pool of blood. When the neighbours realised that Sasidharan was behind the murders, they got hold of him and informed the police.