By R. Rakendu
Afan, a 23-year-old, committed five murders in three different houses. He killed his 13-year-old younger brother, grandmother, paternal uncle and aunt and his girlfriend. He tried killing his mother, but fortunately she managed to survive. All these murders took place in and around Venjaramoodu. After committing these murders, he went to Venjaramoodu Police Station and surrendered.
His initial plan was to kill them all and commit suicide. He decided to kill his girlfriend as well because he thought that she would not be able to live without him. The police stated that Afan had a debt of 65 lakh rupees.
His father lives in Saudi Arabia. The creditors were regular visitors in their home, back in Thiruvananthapuram. That is when Afan decided to commit suicide as he knew that they will not be able to pay off the depts. He tried to convince his mother and younger brother to do the same. But his mother refused. He was angry at his grandmother, paternal uncle and aunt because despite knowing the situation of his family they refused to help.
He walked out of his house after attacking his mother, thinking that she was dead. He went straight to his grandmother’s house, stole her golden necklace and killed her. After that he went to his paternal uncle’s and aunt’s house to murder them. Soon after committing these murders, he went back to his home. His younger brother and girlfriend Farsana were there. He thought that they would not be able to live without him, so he decided to kill them both.
KS Sudarshan, Superintendent of Police stated that the police will investigate if there are any other reasons behind these murders apart from financial issues. Afan’s behaviour has not been normal even after surrendering. His mother said that she had fallen off the bed and that her son had nothing to do with this, unaware of the murders that followed. His father, who came back from Saudi Arabia, expressed his unawareness regarding the dept rising so high.