Kerala mass murder: Evidence of drug use by accused, say police

23-year-old man allegedly carries out brutal mass murder in Venjaramoodu, Kerala, with evidence of drug use, leaving six dead.

The mass murder allegedly carried out by a 23-year-old man at Venjaramoodu in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala was "brutal" and that there is "evidence of drug use" by the accused, the police said on Tuesday (February 25, 2025).

A senior police officer said that the victims, including the accused’s 13-year-old brother, had grievous injuries to their heads.

On being asked by reporters whether the accused used drugs, the officer replied, "There is evidence of drug use. The exact nature of the drug can be ascertained only after scientific examination."

According to the police, the accused — Afan — claimed to have killed six persons, but his mother survived the attack on her and is presently hospitalised.

The other victims were Afan's grandmother, a young woman said to be his lover, his paternal uncle and the latter's wife.

The police officer said that attempts appeared to have been made to open the cupboards at the paternal uncle's home, but it was yet to be ascertained if anything was missing.

The mass murder took place across three houses, reportedly separated by around 20-25 kilometers, in the Venjaramoodu area near the State capital.