Textile shop owner, woman manager found dead in godown at Ayoor

Ayoor: The owner and manager of a textile shop were found dead by hanging inside a godown attached to the establishment at Ayoor town in Kollam district on Friday. The deceased have been identified as Ali (38), a native of Karippathodi in Karipur, Malappuram, and Divyamol (38), wife of Rajeevan, residing at Chandravilasam, Kuriyode in Nilamel. Ali owned Lavish Textiles located on Kottarakkara Road in Ayoor, where Divyamol was employed as the manager.

As per the police, they received a call from Divyamol’s family on Friday morning regarding the incident. Divyamol had not returned home after work on Thursday evening, and her phone was also switched off. On Friday morning, Divyamol’s relatives reached the textile shop to enquire and found it locked. Similarly, there was no response when the relatives knocked on the door of the adjacent building, which functioned as the shop’s godown. Other employees who arrived at the shop around the same time found it closed and joined the search efforts.

A subsequent search found Ali and Divyamol hanging from two ceiling fans in the godown, following which the matter was reported at the Chadayamangalam police station. 

"The reason for the suicide is not clear. We have collected their phones and bank statements, and started an investigation," police sources told Onmanorama.

Divyamol had previously worked at a furniture store at Medayil Junction in Chadayamangalam, where Ali was a partner. When he launched the textile shop in Ayoor ahead of Onam last year, he appointed her as the manager.

Autopsies were conducted at Government Medical College Hospital, Parippally. Divyamol is survived by two daughters, aged 15 and 10.