'Wanted to lead independent life'; Nivedya’s male friend arrested in Kozhinjampara siblings murder case

PALAKKAD: A person, identified as the male friend of accused Nivedya, was arrested in the siblings’ murder in Kozhinjampara. The arrested individual is A. Martin Ignatius (36). According to the police, Martin was directly involved in the killings. Martin lived in a house very near to Nivedya's house. Nivedya—the mother of the siblings was earlier arrested in the case. The police said that Nivedya and Martin shared a close relationship. He was apprehended following an investigation prompted by suspicions that arose during the evidence-gathering process involving Nivedya.

The murder took place in the first week of October. The children—aged five and three—were found dead inside a tank located in the bathroom of the house. The victims were Jennifer Juliet (five) and her brother Robin Christopher (three), the children of John Kumar, a native of Kozhinjampara. At the time of the incident, only Nivedya and the children were present in the house while her husband John was at work.

According to police, Jennifer Juliet, who was playing in a tub, was killed by having her head forcibly submerged. According to the police, the accused then brought her son, Robin Christopher—who had been playing outside—into the bathroom, pushed him into the tub, and held him down by his back until he died. Nivedya told police that she committed the murders because she thought the children were an obstacle if she wanted an independent life ahead. However, police are not ready to buy this claim.