Four members of a family, including two minor children, were found dead at their residence at Ramanthali, Payyanur, Kannur, on Monday night. The police said preliminary investigation points to a family dispute following a court order on child custody as the trigger behind the incident.
The deceased were identified as K.T. Kaladharan (38), his mother Usha (60) and his two children aged five and two.
The incident came to light when Unnikrishnan, Usha’s husband, and an auto-rickshaw driver returned home to find the house locked. After repeated calls went unanswered, he noticed a letter kept in front of the house and approached the Payyanur police.
Investigators said Kaladharan was involved in a prolonged legal dispute with his wife Nayanthara before a family court. A day earlier, the court had reportedly ordered that the two children who were staying with Kaladharan be handed over to their mother. Relatives told police that Nayanthara had subsequently called the family seeking custody of the children.
The Police believe the court order and the continuing family feud may have led to the extreme step. An inquest was conducted by the Payyanur police after which the bodies were shifted to the Kannur Government Medical College Hospital mortuary at Pariyaram for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is under way.
(Suicide Prevention Helpline: Disha – 1056, 0471-2552056)
Published – December 23, 2025 09:23 am IST
