Seven Arrested for Allegedly Beating Mentally Ill Man to Death in Kerala’s Palakkad

Police have arrested seven people for allegedly beating a 40-year-old man to death near Moolathara Dam in Kerala’s Palakkad district after he repeatedly slept in the courtyard of a house despite warnings to stay away.

The prime accused, Kathiresan, a resident of Moolakkadavu, was arrested along with six others identified as Naveen, Karthik, Sanjay, Prasanth, Manikandan and Suryaprakash. Police traced the suspects after examining CCTV footage. Six of the seven accused are below 30 years of age.

According to police, the victim, who was suspected to be suffering from a mental illness and may also have had a speech impairment, was targeted because he continued to sleep outside Kathiresan’s house despite repeated warnings.

The assault is suspected to have taken place on Saturday evening. Investigators said the accused were allegedly drinking at a toddy shop when they spotted the man. They reportedly chased him for nearly half a kilometre, pelting him with stones before cornering him near Moolathara Dam.

The group allegedly attacked him repeatedly with wooden logs and stones, striking his face and head. Police said the assault continued even after the man fell to the ground near the Moolathara regulator.

In a particularly disturbing allegation, the accused reportedly poured liquor into the injured man’s mouth when he asked for water.

Local residents discovered the victim’s body near the dam around 8.30 a.m. on Sunday and alerted the police.

A post-mortem examination at Thrissur Medical College Hospital confirmed that the man had been murdered. The report attributed his death to internal bleeding caused by the severe assault. The body bore multiple bruises and injuries, including serious wounds on the face consistent with blows from stones.

The victim’s identity has not yet been established. Police have extended their search to neighbouring Tamil Nadu to identify him and are investigating whether additional people were involved.

The Meenakshipuram police are probing the case under the supervision of Chittur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sasidharan.