Kozhikode: The police, probing the mysterious deaths of six members of a family at Koodathayi in Kerala's Kozhikode district, said that the victims could have been poisoned. The cops hinted at the murder angle after opening the six graves on Friday and examining the mortal remains.
The six people, including a 10-month-old baby, died between 2002 to 2016. The police are reportedly checking the role of a young woman, said to be a close relative of the deceased, in the case. Foul play was suspected after a part of the family property was allegedly lost over a fake will. One of the victim’s son Rojo, who is in the USA, filed a complaint to the police.
Soup under the scanner
Traces of cyanide were found in the body of one of the deceased, Roy. The ensuing probe led to the other five people of the family, who died in a similar manner. Most of the deceased had complained of uneasiness, fell unconscious and died.
The police have confirmed that all six had had the same food, mutton soup, just before they died. Soon after having the soup, they collapsed and died.
Retired teacher Annamma had died first in 2002 after having mutton soup. Her son Roy Thomas had died after having food in 2011. The family said that Roy had died of heart attack. During an examination at a private hospital, traces of poison were found. However, the family suspecting it to be a case of suicide, did not reveal it to anyone.
Woman’s role?
After the death of her relatives, the woman allegedly tried to fabricate a fake will and take over the assets. This prompted the police to make enquiries and asked her to undergo a lie-detector test. But the woman refused, and the police decided to exhume the bodies to get scientific evidence. Allegations have also risen that attempts were made to dissuade Rojo from giving a complaint.
The police had earlier said that the presence of one individual was noted at the time of the death of all six people.
A retired educational department officer P Tom Thomas, 66; his wife Annamma, 57; son Roy Thomas, 40; their relative Sily; her 10-month-old daughter Alphonsa, and Annamma's brother Mathew Manjadiyil, 68; had died under mysterious circumstances.
Graves opened
The graves at St Mary's Forane Church, Kodenchery, and Lourde Matha Church, Koodathay, were opened on Friday.
"It needs to ascertained be whether the poison entered their body through food, leading to the death. That’s why the bodies were exhumed and mortal remains sent for tests. The forensic rest results would shed more light on this," the police said.
Vatakara rural SP K G Simon and team arrived at the graveyard of St Mary's Forane Church, Kodenchery, by 10am on Friday. A team, comprising forensic experts and doctors, opened the graves.
The graves of Sily and toddler daughter were opened first. Within an hour, they collected the non-decomposed mortal remains of Sily and her daughter.
Both the police and forensic experts examined the remains. The probe team said that as they were the last to die, their graves were opened first.
The Crime Branch and the team then headed to the Lourde Matha Church in Koodathai by 11:40am and the graves of the other four at were also opened and checked. Deceased's relatives and people's representatives were also present when the graves were opened.
The Crime Branch has already collected crucial pieces of evidence, the officers said.
The Crime Branch initiated a probe after it received a complaint, raising suspicions over the deaths that happened over a period of 14 years.
Annamma died in 2002, while her husband Tom Thomas passed away in 2008, and their son Roy in 2011. Mathew died in 2014 and then Sily's daughter. Sily died in 2016. Sily is the first wife of Shaju, who had married Roy's widow.
Some people, already questioned by the Crime Branch, are under strict surveillance. A local leader is also said to be among them.
