Kerala: Girl hired friends to murder grandfather for want of money, probe reveals

In Alappuzha, Kerala, a minor girl allegedly hired three teenage friends to murder her grandfather for financial gain, according to a police investigation. The incident occurred on August 15. The girl's friends arrived in Alappuzha from Kollam by train and entered the victim's house through a vent in the washroom late at night, while the man and his wife and daughter were away.

The girl stayed with a friend on that day. A scuffle ensued between the victim and the assailants, resulting in the man's death. The gang members then searched the house for money and stole gold ornaments, seizing six sovereigns. Alappuzha SP Vishnu Pradeep stated that the girl conspired with her friends to kill her grandfather and intended to buy an iPhone for herself and a bike for the others using the stolen items.

The gang returned to Kollam early on Sunday morning after committing the crime. The next day, the girl returned to the house and alerted her neighbors, who forced the door open and reported the incident to the police. Police initially found the girl's demeanor unusual following her grandfather's death. Upon further questioning and examination of her mobile phone, contradictions emerged in her statements.

The gang had reportedly been inspired by movies, and the scene had been tampered with by sprinkling chilly powder, likely to obstruct the investigation. The girl and her accomplices have no criminal history and a history of broken families. Consequently, they will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, with the recommendation to treat them as adults due to the heinous nature of the crime.