Thrissur: The fugitive life of Premkumar, the prime suspect in the brutal double-murder at Padiyur, ended in the Himalayan town of Kedarnath, where his body was found lifeless at a rest centre. With none of his relatives coming forward to claim the remains, officials decided to carry out the cremation in Uttarakhand itself.

A native of Kottayam, Premkumar was on the run after allegedly killing his second wife, Rekha (40), and her mother Mani (74), at their home in Karalam, Irinjalakuda. Their decomposed bodies were discovered on May 3 after neighbours complained of a foul stench. Rekha was found in the hall and Mani in a nearby room—both scenes suggested signs of a violent struggle.

Police suspect the murders took place around May 1 or 2. Based on CCTV footage and forensic clues, a state-wide manhunt was launched, eventually leading to Kedarnath. Locals found him unresponsive and rushed him to a hospital, where he was declared dead. A note and contact number in his wallet helped police identify the body.

A special team from Thrissur Rural Police later confirmed his identity. While suicide is suspected, post-mortem results will clarify the exact cause of death.

Premkumar had a deeply disturbing past. In 2019, he murdered his first wife, Vidhya, in Udayamperoor and was out on bail when the current crime occurred. After serving time, he began living with Rekha. Investigators believe Rekha’s suspected relationship with another man may have provoked the double homicide.