The alleged murder of a 67-year-old man in Alappuzha district in Keralam has sent shock waves across the State with the police apprehending the 13-year-old granddaughter of the victim and three minor boys in connection with the crime.

The minor accused, all from Paravur in Kollam district, were arrested on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) after the victim, Sivankutty, was found dead at his home in Karuvatta on Monday morning (August 17, 2026).

The teenage girl is suspected to have plotted the murder and it is allegedly committed by the other three accused who are her friends. They also allegedly showed the crime to the girl over a video call, the police said on Tuesday.

Theft

The teenagers had planned to steal gold and money from the house with the aim of buying a high-end mobile phone and a motorbike, the police said.

The gold chain the man was wearing and the ornaments kept in the house were found missing.

Sivankutty was found dead inside the house on Monday morning when his wife and daughter were away at a hospital. The victim’s body was found with his hands and legs tied and a cloth tightened around the neck.

The police zeroed in on the teenagers after they grew suspicious of the girl’s statements during questioning.

According to the police, the three teenage boys allegedly entered the house through a space near a ventilator at the rear of the house and the victim was allegedly killed during a scuffle that followed.

Alappuzha District Police Chief Vishnu Pratheep T.K. said the investigators suspected murder after the body was found with his hands and legs tied with pieces of cloth.

Revenge motive

“The girl had allegedly told one of the other accused about a ‘bad touch’ by the victim, bringing a possible revenge motive into the investigation,” the officer said.

Given the nature of the offence, further legal action will be taken under the Juvenile Justice Act, according to the police.

Published - August 19, 2026 04:49 pm IST