Shocking details continue to emerge in the case of 23-year-old Afan, who brutally murdered five people in Kerala’s Venjaramoodu.
Police have now revealed that he killed his girlfriend, Farsana, not out of animosity but because he believed she would not be able to live without him. The revelation adds a disturbing dimension to the mass murder that has left the state in shock.
According to officials, Afan had accumulated a staggering debt of Rs 65 lakh from 14 different creditors. Struggling to cope with the financial pressure and facing harassment from lenders, he initially planned to die by suicide along with his mother and 13-year-old brother. When his mother refused, he shifted his plan to killing them before taking his own life.
On Monday, Afan carried out a brutal killing spree, first attacking his mother - who survived - before going on to murder his grandmother, paternal uncle, and aunt in their respective homes. He then returned to his own house, where he killed his younger brother and girlfriend, Farsana. After the murders, he calmly walked into the Venjaramoodu police station and surrendered.
Speaking about the chilling details of the case, Superintendent of Police KS Sudarshan said Afan did not harbor any hatred toward Farsana. Instead, he saw her as an extension of himself and believed she would not be able to live without him. This twisted sense of emotional attachment led him to take her life as well.
"He killed his younger brother and then Farsana, thinking that she would be left alone without him," said SP Sudarshan.
Authorities are now investigating whether factors beyond financial stress contributed to Afan’s actions. His unusual behavior even after surrendering has raised suspicions about his mental state.
"Afan will be questioned in the presence of mental health experts. His psychological condition will be thoroughly examined to understand the full extent of his motives," added SP Sudarshan.
Initially, Afan’s mother, Shemina, denied that her son had attacked her, claiming she had simply fallen from her bed. She was reportedly unaware of the massacre he had committed after leaving their home.
Afan’s father, Rahim, who rushed back from Saudi Arabia after the incident, also stated that he had no idea the family's debt had spiraled to Rs 65 lakh. He believed Afan had only taken loans amounting to Rs 15 lakh and was unaware of the extent of the financial crisis.
As the investigation continues, police are looking into whether Afan had been facing psychological distress beyond financial burdens. Experts will evaluate his mental health to determine whether his actions were premeditated solely due to debt or if deeper psychological issues played a role.