Sin city: When it comes to murder cases, Kochi scores

KOCHI: The recent murder at Mulavukad, where a postal department employee slit the throat of his wife after suspecting her of having an extramarital affair, came as a shock for the city.
After committing the crime, the husband pasted a paper on the door of the house stating that an 'accident has occurred', apparently to draw the attention of people.Though the husband also tried to kill himself after murdering his wife, he was saved. Apart from the main wound on the neck, there were around 16 other wounds on her body.
In a disturbing trend, the city has witnessed an increase in the number of murder and attempt to murder cases over the years.
As per a recent data provided by the police, as many as 12 murders were reported in the city limits in 2014 as against six cases reported in 2013. In the current year alone, the city has witnessed three murders till the end of April. This excludes the gruesome murder of the school teacher at Mulavukad.
According to police, in many of the cases, the offenders were known to the victim or from their close circle.
"While murder and murder attempts by organized crime groups like 'quotation gangs' were reported in the past, such cases have come down in the city. In most cases, the victim is known to the offender and the crime is committed either for personal gain or from disputes over petty issues. Suspicion of extramarital affairs and financial disputes are other common reasons," said a senior official with the city police.
As in the case of Mulavukad murder, suspicion of adultery was the reason behind the recent murder of a plywood factory owner near Perumbavoor by his ex-employee and friend.
According to police, offenders were under the influence of alcohol in some of the murder and murder attempt cases. In January, a 42-year-old man from Ponekkara near Edappally was stabbed to death by a six-member gang. The gang members were his neighbours and they attacked the man at night under the influence of alcohol over a petty issue.
Similarly, attempt to murder cases have also shot up with 29 cases reported in 2014 as against 22 cases reported in 2013. In 2012, there were only 10 such cases. Meanwhile, five murder attempts have been reported in the city this year till April-end.
Meanwhile, except in one case, the city police were successful in tracing and arresting culprits in 27 murders reported between 2012 and 2015 (till April 30). With regards to attempt to murder cases reported in the same period, police had succeeded in tracing offenders in all 66 cases.