Alappuzha, Kerala: A shocking murder case has come to light in Kerala’s Alappuzha district, where a 13-year-old girl allegedly plotted the murder of her 67-year-old grandfather with the help of her 17-year-old boyfriend and three other minors.
According to police, the elderly man was alone at home as his wife had gone to a government medical college hospital to be with their daughter, who had been admitted for childbirth.
On the night of August 15, the 17-year-old boy and three other minors allegedly entered the house through a bathroom ventilator. Police said they acted on instructions allegedly given by the girl during a video call. The accused reportedly restrained the elderly man and assaulted him before suffocating him. The girl allegedly watched the incident through the video call.
The suspects reportedly fled with around 4.5 sovereigns of gold. The following day, the girl allegedly behaved as though nothing had happened. She reportedly told local residents that her grandfather was not opening the door and suggested that he might be asleep after consuming alcohol. She also went to a nearby shop with younger children and bought snacks.
Despite the incident, the girl reportedly dressed in her school uniform and prepared to attend an examination, telling a shopkeeper that she had to appear for the test.
Police initially suspected a burglary after finding that gold was missing. However, CCTV footage and other technical evidence reportedly led investigators to the girl and the other minors. The 13-year-old girl, her 17-year-old boyfriend and three other minor boys were subsequently taken into custody for questioning.
Police said the girl allegedly claimed that her grandfather had behaved inappropriately towards her and that she had developed resentment against him. Investigators, however, are also examining a possible financial motive. Police reportedly suspect that the girl and her boyfriend may have wanted money, including for the boy’s plan to buy a motorcycle.
Authorities also suspect that some of the minors may have been under the influence of drugs, though this remains part of the investigation.
All the accused are minors and were reportedly sent to a juvenile home. Police said they would approach the Juvenile Justice Board regarding further legal proceedings.
The tragedy has deeply affected the family. At the same hospital where the grandfather’s body was taken for post-mortem examination, his daughter had just given birth to a baby girl. His wife, who was at the hospital for the delivery, was subsequently faced with the devastating situation of seeing her husband’s body in the mortuary.