TVM mass murder: Cops to probe Afan’s mother’s role in ₹65 lakh debt
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Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) has decided to interrogate Shemi, the mother of Afan, the prime accused in the brutal murder of five people in Venjaramoodu, Thiruvananthapuram, on February 24.
During interrogation, Afan claimed that his mother was responsible for the family’s massive debt of Rs 65 lakh, which he alleged drove him to commit the horrific killings.
According to police sources, the family’s financial crisis worsened after 2021, and investigators suspect Shemi played a crucial role in handling the family's finances. She is believed to have borrowed heavily from relatives and local moneylenders, using gold and property documents to secure loans. For over two years, she allegedly managed these financial dealings, prompting police to probe the reasons behind the enormous debt.
The case took another turn after Afan’s father, Abdul Rahim, who returned from the UAE after the murders, told police he was only aware of a Rs 15 lakh debt. He refuted Afan’s claims and stated that he had never asked the family to send him money for his business in the Middle East.
Shemi, the only survivor of the attack, is currently undergoing treatment at Gokulam Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, recovering from severe head injuries inflicted by her son.
On February 24, Afan first attacked his mother with a hammer, leaving her critically injured and locking her inside a room. He then went to his grandmother’s house, where he brutally murdered 88-year-old Salma Beevi by smashing her head against a wall. His killing spree continued with his uncle, Abdul Latheef (69), a retired Kerala Police officer, and his aunt, Shajida (59), whom he attacked with a hammer. Later, he lured his fiancée, Farsana (22), to his home and killed her mercilessly. His final victim was his 14-year-old younger brother, Afsan.
The shocking crime has sparked widespread debate in Kerala, with discussions about whether Afan was influenced by violent Malayalam films. Many argue that the increasing portrayal of extreme violence in cinema may have contributed to his mindset.
As the investigation deepens, the SIT is focused on unraveling the financial crisis that may have led to the tragedy, while experts continue analyzing the psychological and social factors behind one of the most horrifying mass murders in Kerala’s history.
With IANS inputs