The police on Tuesday took into custody Chenthamara, the accused in the murder of an elderly woman and her 53-year-old son in this north Kerala district a day ago. He was apprehended late on Tuesday evening following a massive manhunt conducted by the police, with local people assisting, a police officer told reporters. Visuals aired by news channels showed the accused being taken to the Nenmara police station.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the station on Tuesday night, demanding that the police hand over the accused in the sensational murder case. The police had to use force to disperse the crowd. Chenthamara had gone into hiding after allegedly committing the crime on Monday morning. Lakshmi, 72, and her son Sudhakaran were allegedly hacked to death in broad daylight by Chenthamara, 57, outside their residence in Pothundi. Their bodies were cremated later in the day. He allegedly bore animosity towards Sudhakaran's family, believing that their interference had caused his wife and children to leave him.