Trouble-maker turned mass-murderer leaves colony in shock at Paravur

The gruesome murder of three people in their house has shaken a peaceful residential colony at Kizhakkumpuram, Paravur, in Ernakulam district. On Thursday evening, anguished cries echoed from the home of Venu, a daily-wage worker, throwing the neighbours into a state of panic.

Rushing in, they were met with a heart-wrenching scene: Venu, his wife Usha, their daughter Vineesha, and son-in-law Jithin lay unconscious in a blood-soaked drawing room, brutally attacked with an iron rod. The assailant, 28-year-old Rithu Jayan, who lived just eight metres away in an opposite house, fled the scene on Jithin’s two-wheeler before surrendering to the Vadakkekkara police.

The locality remains in disbelief, as no significant disputes had been reported between Rithu and Venu’s family. According to Usha’s nephew Vinesh, the family had mentioned a minor altercation in the past, but nothing alarming. “They have moved to the area just three years ago. There was no indication of anything serious. It was Nitha, Vineesha’s sister residing at Ayyampilly, who called and informed me. By the time I reached, neighbours had already rushed three of them to the hospital. Only Usha remained at the scene,” Vinesh recounted while waiting for the police to complete the inquest procedures on Friday. The tragic incident spared Jithin’s two daughters, aged 11 and 6, who were present in the house during the attack. “I immediately took the children to my home to keep them safe,” Vinesh added.

Usha was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, while Vineesha and Venu succumbed shortly after. Jithin, who works in the UAE and was on leave preparing to return in mid-February, is currently in critical condition at Aster Medcity in Kochi.

Rithu, whom the residents refer to as a habitual troublemaker, had a history of conflicts in the area. Panchayat vice-president Sreejith V U said it was a horrifying scene, a house filled with blood. He also recalled a previous incident when Rithu had jumped into Venu’s compound during an altercation, prompting the family to install CCTV cameras. A similar dispute had occurred earlier with another neighbour over a dog entering Rithu’s property.

Ward member Divya Unnikrishnan stated that Rithu’s family had claimed he was struggling with mental health issues, but his proclivity for disruptive behaviour, including involvement in narcotics cases, painted a troubling picture. Rithu had recently returned to the area after spending years in Bengaluru, making him less familiar to several local residents. The funeral is scheduled for 3.30 pm.