A dispute between neighbors turns fatal, a young man is hacked to death in Thiruvananthapuram

A long-standing neighborhood rivalry over a boundary dispute reportedly culminated in the brutal daylight killing of a 42-year-old man at Chambakada in Kaithamukku on Sunday. Within hours of the crime, the city police arrested the main accused, Pradeep (38), along with three other accomplices. The victim, 42-year-old Vishach, a resident of Chambakada, was attacked around 1.30 pm outside his house.

According to police, a group of four men allegedly arrived in a rental car and attacked Vishach with deadly weapons, causing severe injuries to his hands, legs and abdomen, before fleeing the scene in the vehicle. Preliminary investigations indicate that the murder is related to a long-standing boundary dispute between the neighbors, who are also considered distant relatives. The duo has also been involved in several confrontations over the years, many of which resulted in criminal cases.

A similar encounter took place around six months ago, during which Vishach allegedly assaulted Pradeep. The accused in the particular case was Vishach, local residents informed the police that previous disputes between the two families required the intervention of other neighbors and local residents’ associations. But no one expected the conflict to escalate into a deadly attack, they said.

The vehicle was later found abandoned in Pulayanarkotta, after which the suspects tried to evade arrest. The gang was arrested on the spot after a search operation. The four suspects were later taken to the armed reserve camp in Nandavanam for questioning. Police also found three knives suspected of being used in the murder, along with bottles of alcohol from the abandoned car.

Police also confirmed that the vehicle used in the crime was allegedly rented for the attack. Senior police officers, including District Superintendent of Police (Thiruvananthapuram City) Arula RB Krishna, visited the crime scene and supervised the investigation. The accused will remain in police custody for questioning and are expected to appear in court on Monday, after which investigators are likely to seek further custody to continue questioning.

Published – 26 Jul 2026 22:47 IST