Elderly couple hacked to death in Palakkad, grandson critically injured; son-in-law arrested

Palakkad: A brutal late-night attack in Ottappalam has left an elderly couple dead and their four-year-old grandson fighting for life, sending shockwaves through the neighbourhood. Police have arrested the couple’s son-in-law in connection with the crime.

The victims were identified as Nazeer (63) and his wife Suhara (60), residents of Thottakkattukkara. Their grandson sustained serious injuries after being attacked with a sharp weapon and is currently in critical condition at a private hospital in Vaniyamkulam.

According to police, the accused, Muhammad Rafi, a native of Ponnani in Malappuram district, allegedly attacked around midnight on Sunday. Investigators said he later attempted to take his own life by slitting his wrist before fleeing the house.

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The crime came to light when the couple’s daughter, Sulfiyath, managed to escape from the house with her injured child, fearing further violence. She alerted neighbours, who rushed to the spot and found the elderly couple lying dead in a pool of blood.

Police and local residents later traced Rafi to an abandoned plot near a mosque. He was found with a bleeding wrist and was taken to a hospital for treatment before being taken into custody.

The injured child continues to receive medical care, while police said the accused will be questioned in detail once his condition stabilises. Preliminary inquiries suggest that a domestic dispute may have triggered the deadly attack, though officers said a thorough investigation is underway to establish the exact motive behind the crime.

(with inputs from agencies)