Kanjirappally: A man was arrested by the police after his younger brother and maternal uncle were shot down by him during a negotiation at their ancestral home in Kanjirapally in Kottayam district on Monday over a property dispute.
When the police came to the house, George Kurian of Karimpanal family in Kanjirappally, wearing a blood-stained shirt, was sitting on a chair in a room after shooting to death his younger brother Renju Kurian, 50, and uncle Mathew Scaria alias Poochakkallil Raju, 74.
It is said that they were shot at close range by George Kurian, 52, by using a revolver. The brothers reportedly had a fight over their ancestral property which led to the chilling murder. Hearing the gunshot, it was their parents who first opened the door. Unable to bear the shock, the terror-stricken parents closed the door and left the place.
Both the brothers came to their ancestral house on Monday for conciliation. George Kurian came to Kanjirapally from Ernakulam three days ago for discussions and took a room in a hotel. Renju, who was earlier staying with their parents K V Kurian, 84, and Rose Kurian, 75, at their ancestral house, later shifted his residence to Ooty in Tamil Nadu in connection with the studies of his children.
Mathew Scaria came for mediation after the brothers failed to break the ice over the dispute arising out of the sale of a property. During the discussions, there occurred a verbal duel between the brothers followed by a physical brawl. An enraged George Kurian took his revolver and fired at Renju. A bullet pierced into Renju's head, killing him on the spot.
Their uncle Mathew Scaria got bullet injuries on his head and chest. A bullet pierced through his head and came out. According to police, George Kurian used a licensed revolver. The police later took both of them to a hospital. The body of Mathew Scaria is kept at the mortuary of the hospital.
The police found that four bullets were used from the revolver of George Kurian. Two bullets each crept into the body of Renju and Mathew Scaria. But more clarity in this regard will be reached only after conducting a forensic examination.
Renju is survived by his wife Malayil Roshan of Kothamangalam and children Rose, Riya, Kurian, and Rose Ann. Mathew is survived by his wife Annie and children Renu, Anju, Annu, and Neethu, and sons-in-law Mathen Chakola, Mathew Kurivanakunnel, Sanju Aanathanam, and Ouseph Pulikkal.
District Police Superintendent D Silpa and DySP Babukuttan visited the crime spot.
