Wed Jan 29 08:52:20 UTC 2025: ## Palakkad Shaken by Double Murder; Neighbour on Bail for Previous Killing Arrested
**Nenmara, Kerala:** A wave of anger and grief swept through Nenmara town in Palakkad district following the brutal double murder of 55-year-old Sudhakaran and his 75-year-old mother, Lakshmi. The accused, their neighbour Chenthamara, 58, was arrested after a 36-hour manhunt. Chenthamara was already out on bail for the murder of Sudhakaran’s first wife, Sajitha, five years ago.
The murders, committed on Monday, have left Sudhakaran’s two daughters, Akhila and Athulya, devastated. They lost their mother to the same perpetrator in 2019 and have now lost their father and grandmother. They have demanded the death penalty for Chenthamara, expressing outrage at the police’s alleged failure to heed their concerns about his presence in the neighbourhood.
Police say Chenthamara confessed to the killings, claiming he suspected Sudhakaran would retaliate for Sajitha’s murder. He reportedly believed Sudhakaran’s family had used witchcraft to drive a wedge between him and his wife, fueling his rage. Investigations reveal the murders were premeditated; Chenthamara purchased a weapon specifically for the crime. He also confessed to planning to murder his estranged wife. Sudhakaran’s current wife and daughters were unharmed as they were not home at the time of the attack.
Chenthamara’s arrest, following a strategic police operation in which officers feigned abandoning the search, triggered intense protests outside the Nenmara police station, requiring police intervention to restore order. He will be produced in court today and may be taken to the crime scene for a reconstruction of the events. Palakkad police chief Ajith Kumar cautioned that the investigation is ongoing and that some details remain uncorroborated.
First Piper 