Kerala stunned by cruelty of Soumya, alleged killer of parents and children

Kannur: At least the people of Kerala are taken aback after the details of murder of four in a family emerged. Soumya, who confessed to police that she herself killed her parents and two children, has become a dreadful icon of cruelty and mercilessness.

Mysterious deaths started in January of this year. Soumya's nine year old daughter, Aiswarya was the first victim of her mother's cruelty. She died on 21st January after suffering from severe vomiting and related ailments. Soumya’s other daughter Keerthana had died in 2012 after showing the same symptoms that Aiswarya had before her death. Though people now doubt Soumya herself had killed Keerthana, the police cannot prove the allegation for lack of evidence.

On the 43rd day, the next death followed. The 65 year old mother, Kamala died on the fourth day after she was admitted to Mission Hospital Talassery after suffering from severe vomiting and stomach pain. 76 year old Kunjikannan was the third. He was admitted on 10th April and breathed his last on the fourth day.

Soumya was living with a Kishor whom she acquainted herself with during her job at a cashew nut processing firm. They were not legally married. They parted with each other while Soumya was expecting her second child. Later, she was seen leading a wayward life. Her parents objected to the life-style which offended her. This prompted her for the homicide.

Soon after the last killing, Soumya had approached the Agriculture department for getting the water of her well tested; saying there was suspected ammonia content. This act is now seen to have been used as a ploy to avert suspicions of foul play in the recent deaths, and to attribute them to food poisoning. Tests showed that neither that well, nor the other wells in the neighbourhood had any trace of ammonia.