Idukki: Police on Wednesday arrested a man for the brutal murder of a 30-year-old man whose throat was slit while he was asleep at his house in Karimthode, Udumbanchola. The accused, P Nagaraj (33), alias Chinna Thampi, of Kailasanadu, Karimthode, is the brother-in-law of the deceased, Solraj (30).

According to police, Nagaraj, who was recently out on bail in an illicit liquor case, was enraged after learning that Solraj had allegedly assaulted his parents. Following long-standing family disputes, Nagaraj entered Solraj’s room on Monday night and slit his throat with a butchering knife, which he later discarded in a nearby estate. The weapon was later recovered.

Nagaraj, who admitted to the crime, told police that repeated assaults by Solraj had provoked him. He had also consumed alcohol before committing the act. Two days later, Nagaraj’s wife, Kavitha, alerted residents after finding Solraj dead in his room, which led to police intervention.

The arrest was made by a special team led by DySP V A Nishadmon under the direction of District Police Chief Sabu Mathew.