Kerala: Man, son die in ‘suicide’ by crash

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In what appears to be a case of suicide, a 50-year-old man and his 12-year-old son died after their car crashed into a truck on NH 66 near Mamam Bridge at Attingal on Tuesday night. Prakash Devarajan, a resident of VT Nagar near Nettayam and his son Sivadev were speeding towards Kollam when the car collided head on with a diesel tanker coming towards them.
Eyewitnesses told police that the car was being driven at a high-speed and rammed the truck directly, giving the impression that the driver was attempting suicide by crash. A suicide note recovered from the car and the Facebook and WhatsApp messages shared by Devarajan among his friends and relatives further strengthened the possibility of suicide.
In the suicide note and social media posts, he has blamed five persons, including his wife Sivakala, for driving him and his son to suicide. Sivakala is working as a dance teacher in Bahrain. The husband and wife were said to be ina strained relationship.
Devarajan's relatives said the father and son had visited his mother at Karipur near Nedumangadu on Tuesday and that they left the ancestral home by around 9pm. Though his mother requested him to leave the boy there for a day or two, Prakash refused saying that Sivadev has to attend school on Wednesday. He uploaded the social media messages at 10.10pm and went incommunicado. Though his friends and relatives tried to locate them and informed police about the ominous messages, police could do little to trace them as the relatives were not sure about the registration number of the car. They could only trace the last tower location which was in Thiruvananthapuram city limit at 10:12pm. While Devarajan died on the spot, Sivadev succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital.
Devarajan had married Sivakala, who was a divorcee, some 13 years ago. She had a daughter, named Kavya (19) in the first marriage. Kavya was staying with Devarajan and Sivadev. "We are yet to question their relatives and the people mentioned in the suicide note. Their involvement, if any, in the accident could be ascertained after we question them," said SHO of Attingal police station. Police have registered a case for motor occurrence under Section 306 (1)(C) MA and started an investigation. The bodies were handed over to relatives and the funerals were held at Devarajan's ancestral home compound at Nedumangad. "Devarajan appeared happy when he left his mother's house last night. Only a thorough probe can throw light on the real cause of the deaths," said Prathapan, Devarajan's relative.
No one close to Devarajan, including his mother or brothers, was aware of the issues in his life. His neighbours said he led a secluded life and hardly communicated with others. "Kavya used to conduct a dance class at the house, but the students had hardly seen him," said Geetha B, ward member.Devarajan was working with an insurance agency and his colleagues said that he was very friendly and generous to all.