When we hear stories of justice, we often think about courts, police, and the rule of law. But sometimes, justice takes an extraordinary path-as it did in the heart of Kerala in 2002. The tale of Kutty, a father whose love for his daughter knew no bounds, remains one of the most emotional and controversial stories in the region’s history.
This story narrates the sad yet inspiring saga of a man who, against all odds, managed to engrave his name in the hearts of the people.
The Missing Complaint: Setting the Stage
On July 4, 2002, a man named Abdul Aziz walked into the Manjeri police station in Malappuram district, Kerala. Quite unflustered, he coolly filed a missing complaint for his 24 year old brother Ahmed Koya. Abdul was a teacher and lived with his family in Elankur. He said Koya had been missing for 10 days.
When the police interrogated Abdul about the delay, he explained that his brother was never without friends and seldom stayed home, so they had assumed he had gone away. The police, although suspicious, started making inquiries.
Shocking Discovery in the Forest
The day after, on 5th July, a foul odour emanating from an abandoned dry well in the vicinity of a dense forest in Malappuram caught the attention of the villagers. Upon peering into the well, they found a dead body wrapped in a sack. Police arrived at the scene and found that the body belonged to Ahmed Koya.
What no one knew at this point was that the killer was standing in the crowd, looking on as the drama unfolded.
The Backstory: Koya’s Crime Against Krishna Priya
To understand the motive behind Koya’s murder, we must travel back to February 9, 2001. Kutty, a man from Manjeri, lived happily with his family, including his youngest daughter, Krishna Priya, a 9th-grade student. Priya was the apple of her father’s eye, adored by her family and community alike.
She left school at around 4:30 PM that day but, as was to be expected, did not reach home. Her parents panicked and started searching everywhere for her. Unfortunately, her lifeless body was found in a nearby forest just 200 meters away from their home. The police then informed them that Priya had been raped and murdered.
The culprit was Ahmed Koya, a neighbor and family acquaintance. Trusting him, Priya had followed Koya into the woods. He had betrayed her trust there and then. Koya was arrested but shockingly released on bail in 10 months, which infuriated Priya’s family and the community.
The oath of an aggrieved father
This shattered Kutty. His daughter’s life had come down to a mere 10-month sentence upon Koya, he felt. He couldn’t comprehend how such injustice could prevail. Grief and anger welling up inside him, Kutty decided to bump off Koya. He shared his design with his very close friends Mohan and Shankar, and they wholeheartedly agreed to help him seek revenge.
They plotted his death, knowing full well about Koya’s weakness for alcohol. They decided to lure him into the forest under the pretext of drinking.
Execution
On June 27, 2002, Mohan invited Koya for a drink. As pre-planned, they walked towards the forest, crossing Kutty’s cowshed. Kutty, who was hiding in the shed, armed himself with a gun and waited for them.
At around 11:30 PM, Koya, heavily intoxicated, lay down. Mohan and Shankar, fueled by anger, began beating him mercilessly. Despite their rage, they restrained themselves from delivering the final blow, leaving that to Kutty.
With a gun in his hand, Kutty came out and faced Koya. Without wasting any time, he shot seven bullets at Koya, each aimed at a different part of his body. Koya died due to the injuries and was pushed into a sack, throwing him into the abandoned well.
The Aftermath: Justice or Revenge?
Kutty surrendered to the police and handed over the murder weapon, confessing to the crime. His act of vengeance divided public opinion. Though many saw him as a hero for having avenged his daughter’s death, the law declared him guilty.
In 2002, Kutty was sentenced to life, Mohan and Shankar to three year imprisonment. But in 2006, the court released Kutty for lack of evidence since it stated that Koya had many enemies and one of them might have killed him.
Conclusion
Though heartbreaking, this story really points to the bond between a father and his child. The story of Kutty has resonated deeply with many, reminding us of the power of love, grief, and justice. Though illegal, his actions were celebrated by many who believed he had upheld moral justice where the legal system had failed.
