Kesavadasapuram Manorama murder: TVM court awards life term to West Bengal man

Thiruvananthapuram: A fast-track court at Vanchiyoor on Saturday sentenced a West Bengal native to life imprisonment for murdering a 68-year-old woman at Kesavadasapuram in 2022. Adam Ali (25) was found guilty of killing Manorama, a retired government employee, during a robbery attempt at her house.

The Vanchiyoor court complex witnessed dramatic scenes after the verdict, as Ali attempted to escape upon being pronounced guilty. Police and lawyers chased and overpowered him within the premises. He was later produced before the court, which awarded him life imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹90,000.

According to the prosecution, Ali, a construction worker, strangled and stabbed the elderly woman to death. After ensuring she had died, he tied her legs to prevent the body from floating and dumped her in a well. Her body, with the throat slit, was recovered from the well on August 7, 2022.

Following the murder, Ali tried to flee to West Bengal but was arrested from the Thampanoor railway station. Police said he had been employed at a construction site next to the victim’s house and frequently visited Manorama under the pretext of asking for drinking water while planning the robbery.

Ali was only 21 years old at the time of committing the crime.