Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Dec 10: The death of a kabaddi player, which was initially believed to have been by a natural cause, has now taken a new turn, with the police confirming that the man was murdered, and that illcit relationship had let to it.

Santhosh (left) and Manoj

Kabaddi player Santhosh (37) was found dead at his house on December 8. It was initially suspected that he had died of cardiac arrest. But a detailed post-mortem indicated foul play.

The police on Thursday December 10 arrested Santhosh's cousin Manoj (38), a resident of Karyangodu Chettikana.

A thorough investigation by the police revealed that it was a planned murder, and that illicit relationship was behind it.

Manoj had divorced his wife and reportedly developed an illicit relationship with Santhosh's wife.

It is said that a day before he was murdered, Santhosh had allegedly assaulted his mother in a state of drunken stupor. The injured mother was taken to hospital, and Santhosh's wife was with her.

Manoj had watched Santhosh and his friend drinking liquor on December 7. Soon after his friend left, Manoj came in his bike, saw Santhosh, who was alone at home, lying in an inebriated state, and stangled him with a rope and fled. He took care to take the rope back with him, the police said.

Santhosh's body was discovered the next day and it was presumed that he died of heart failure.

Manoj had even taken part in the last rites of Santhosh.

Following suspicions expressed by the relatives of the deceased, post-mortem was conducted at Periyaram Medical Hospital which proved that Santhosh died of strangulation. Also, the hospital surgeon Gopala Krishna Pillai had visited Santhosh's house, obtained information from the room where he had died and submitted a report to Nileshwar police.

Police obtained information about Santhosh's friends and questioned people who often visited his house. Circumstantial evidence was collected in the case, and finally when Manoj was taken into custody and questioned, the truth came out. Manoj has confessed to the crime, police said.

Investigation is in progress to find out if Santhosh's wife had played any role in the crime.