Nenmara murders: Chenthamara couldn't bear others' happiness, wanted to kill again

Nenmara in Palakkad, Kerala, remains in shock after a man named Chenthamara killed two of his neighbours—Lekshmi and her son Sudhakaran—while out on bail after being accused of murdering Sudhakaran’s first wife, Sajitha, in 2019.

Retired DySP KM Devasya, who was part of the Sajitha murder investigation, recalled Chenthamara's chilling statement during questioning: “He openly admitted he would commit murder again.”

“It took an exhaustive effort to capture him back then. After Sajitha’s murder, he disappeared, triggering a statewide manhunt. Roads were blocked, vehicles were checked, and suspicion fell on the Arakkamala forest as his hideout. Despite relentless searches, the rugged terrain made locating him extremely difficult,” he added.

Devasya explained how the breakthrough came when police monitored the homes of Chenthamara's relatives. “We stationed ourselves at his elder brother’s house, where his mother also lived. Unable to withstand hunger, he eventually came there for food. That’s when we surrounded the house and apprehended him. However, locals were furious, demanding we hand him over so they could exact their own justice. As we transported him, the crowd even tried to damage our vehicle,” he recounted.

Chenthamara’s actions were fuelled by deep-seated superstition and revenge. He believed Sajitha, her neighbour Pushpa, and her husband Sudhakaran had conspired against him, blaming them for the collapse of his life. Devasya clarified that these beliefs were unfounded and that Chenthamara’s erratic behaviour was why his wife left him. “After his wife’s departure, he couldn’t bear seeing others happy. Even casual conversations or laughter made him feel targeted, intensifying his resentment,” he explained.

Devasya said that Chenthamara showed no guilt over his crimes. “During evidence collection and interrogation, he displayed no hesitation or remorse. He even admitted that if we hadn’t caught him, he would have killed more people, though he didn’t specify who.”

Even after serving five years in prison for another murder, Chenthamara’s vengeful mindset has remained unchanged. “It’s shocking that he hasn’t shown any signs of reform,” Devasya remarked.

Police recovered a bottle of poison from Chenthamara’s home, raising concerns that he may attempt suicide. Devasya noted that his unpredictable nature and history of violence make him a perennial threat.