Thiruvananthapuram: In the case of the mass murder in Kerala’s capital by a 23-year-old, the police said on Tuesday that they received evidence proving the use of drugs by the accused. Police called the incident brutal, adding that the victims, including the accused’s 13-year-old brother, had grievous injuries to their heads, PTI reported.
On being asked by reporters whether the accused used drugs, the officer replied, "There is evidence of drug use. The exact nature of the drug can be ascertained only after scientific examination."
According to the police, the accused -- Afan -- claimed to have killed six persons, but his mother survived the attack on her and is presently hospitalised.
The other victims were Afan's grandmother, a young woman said to be his lover, his paternal uncle and the latter's wife.
The remains of Afan's grandmother, brother, uncle and aunt were handed over to the family after completion of the post-mortem and were kept on public display at the accused's grandmother's home at Pangode for relatives and neighbours to pay their last respects.
Hundreds, including close friends, relatives and neighbours, turned up to see the victims' remains for the last time, and many could be seen breaking into tears.
Thereafter, the victims' remains were laid to rest in the evening at the Pangode Juma Masjid.
The funeral rites of Afan's girlfriend, Farsana, were carried out at her home, and then her remains were laid to rest at the Kattumurakkal Juma Masjid in Chirayinkeezhu in the evening.
Earlier in the day, police said that attempts appeared to have been made to open the cupboards at Afan's paternal uncle's home, but it was yet to be ascertained if anything was missing.
The mass murder took place across three houses, reportedly separated by around 20-25 kilometres, in the Venjaramoodu area near the state capital.
Afan is suspected to have travelled from one house to the other on his motorbike to carry out the murders, police said, but did not officially disclose the exact sequence in which he allegedly carried out the killings.
When there was an opinion among officials that the murders were cruel and premeditated, neighbours and relatives claimed that Afan was a good-natured, mild-mannered and soft-spoken person. None of the relatives or neighbours could believe that the accused could commit the murders.