Fresh details have emerged in the tragic incident in which four members of a family were found dead inside their residence at Ramanthali Vadakkumbad near Payyannur in Kerala’s Kannur district, sending shockwaves across the region.
Victims identified, grim scene inside house
The deceased have been identified as K T Kaladharan (36), his children Hima (6) and Kannan (2), and his mother Usha (56). Police said Kaladharan and Usha were found hanging inside a bedroom, while the two young children were found lying dead on the floor.
Preliminary findings suggest that the children may have been poisoned before the adults took their own lives. However, police officials said the exact cause of death will be confirmed only after post-mortem examinations and forensic analysis.
Family court dispute cited as possible trigger
Investigators revealed that Kaladharan, who worked as a chef, was involved in an ongoing legal dispute with his wife at the family court. The court had reportedly directed him to hand over custody of the children to their mother.
Police suspect that the order, and the pressure surrounding it, may have led him to take the extreme step. His wife had earlier approached the police with the court directive seeking custody of the children.
According to officials, the police had contacted Kaladharan’s father, A K Unnikrishnan, an autorickshaw driver in Payyannur town, and instructed him to ensure the children were handed over the next day.
Father discovers tragedy after returning home
The horrific incident came to light when Unnikrishnan returned home at night and found the house locked from inside. Despite knocking repeatedly, there was no response. He then noticed a letter placed on the sit-out of the house.
Alarmed, he informed the police, who arrived at the spot and forcibly opened the door. The bodies were discovered inside, confirming the worst fears of the family.
Police have seized the letter and are examining its contents as part of the investigation.
Police investigation underway
A senior police officer said a detailed probe is underway to reconstruct the sequence of events and verify whether poisoning preceded the deaths. Statements from relatives, neighbours and officials involved in the custody proceedings are being recorded.
The incident has raised renewed concerns about mental health support, family court stress, and crisis intervention mechanisms in cases involving custody disputes.
Authorities have urged families facing legal and emotional distress to seek counselling and support before situations spiral into tragedy.