Neenu's mother brain behind Kevin killing: Key witness

Kevin P Joseph, Kottayam youth, was found dead in suspected case of honour killing

Kottayam: In a startling revelation, the key witness in the alleged honour killing of Kevin P Joseph, said that the mastermind behind the brutal crime was Rehna, the mother of Neenu whom the slain youth was set to marry.

Aneesh, Kevin's cousin, on Friday told Manorama News that a day before Kevin was abducted by a gang, Rehna had come to Mannar, in Alappuzha district, and threatened to eliminate Kevin. She was accompanied by Niyas, one of the accused in the case.

Aneesh was also abducted by the gang along with Kevin. However, he was released later.

Aneesh said the police refusal to arraign Rehna as an accused was part of the move to subvert the probe. Rehna's husband Chacko and son Syanu were arrested.

Aneesh demanded a probe by the CBI into the case in which some police personnel are also involved.

Kevin, a Dalit Christian, was abducted on May 27 by the gang allegedly engaged by his Neenu's family. His body was found in a river in Kollam district a day later.

His relatives have alleged that he was tortured and killed two days after he and his fiancee filed a joint application for marriage registration at a sub-registrar office near here.

Kevin's body was found on May 28, a day after he was abducted.

Sub-inspector M S Shibu and ASI Sunnymon of the Gandhinagar police station were suspended for laxity while Kottayam district superintendent of police V M Mohammed Rafique was transferred following the incident.

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