A flower was placed on the grave of DSP’s son

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week ago, Harikumar’s posters were pasted at Kodangavila near Neyyattinkara, labelling him as a murderer. On Tuesday, at Veyilore, a banner offering condolences to the police officer was hung in the area by local residents.
The public targeted the mediapersons gathered there over the ‘media trial’ that led Harikumar to take the extreme step. As the inquest of the body was progressing, a group of angry local residents, led by Harikumar’s elder brother, chased the mediapersons out of the compound.It was still hard for them to believe that he was involved in a murder case.
“His work kept him away from his residence most of the times. He visited his family once in a week. Yet he maintained a good relationship with us,” said Mohanan, a neighbour.
Harikumar hailed from Kallara and settled at Veyilore after marriage. Tragedy struck the family over 10 years ago when he lost his elder son to cancer. His body was buried in the same compound. On Tuesday, the day he died, local residents also found a chrysanthemum flower on his son’s grave.
The arrest of the second accused might have put him under pressure, said one the DSP’s relative.
“He may have feared that his family members too would meet with the same fate. The police had summoned his brother to their headquarters on Tuesday,” he said.