Thiruvananthapuram: A 63-year-old man was beaten to death on his daughter's wedding day in Kallambalam here on Wednesday.
Raju, a native of Vadasserikonam, was beaten to death by his neighbour Jishnu and friends at his house on Wednesday morning.
Jishnu, his brother Jijin and companions were arrested by the police soon after the incident.
The incident
According to the police, the accused Jishnu and Raju's daughter Sreelakshmi were in a relationship earlier. The family had rejected Jishnu's marriage proposal before proceeding with another alliance.
Raju's daughter's wedding was scheduled to take place at 10.30am on Wednesday. The family had arranged a dinner for relatives and friends on the eve of the wedding.
Jishnu, his brother and two friends- Manu and Shyam entered into an altercation with the family around midnight after guests left their home.
Only Raju, his wife Jaya and daughter Sreelakshmi were at the house at the time of attack. His son Sreehari was not at home. The incident took place at 12.30am on Wednesday.
The gang attacked Sreelakshmi after arriving at the house. They launched an attack on her father when he tried to prevent this.
Jijin attacked Raju with a hoe during the fight. They continued to brutally attack him after he fell.
Though rushed to the hospital immediately, he was declared dead on arrival. The four escaped from the premises when Raju's brother and family rushed to the house hearing the commotion.
The police was intimated about the incident by 1am, Kallambalam police said. The police arrived at the site immediately and began inquest proceedings.
Raju, a former expat, had quit his job after 25 years abroad to settle down with his family in Kerala. He was working as an autorickshaw driver on his return.
