Drunk mahout kills wife and son with a knife meant for elephants

Moovattupuzha: He tamed elephants but he could not tame his rage. A mahout at Ayavana hacked to death his wife and son with a knife reserved for elephants after they chided him for his alcoholism. His elder son has been admitted to a hospital with deep wounds.

Viswanathan Mankuttel’s frequent bouts of drinking had been an issue within the family for some time. He lost his cool on Sunday evening when he went home drunk as usual. When his wife Sheela (45) and sons challenged his drinking habits, he hacked them with the heavy weapon with which he keeps tuskers in line.
Sheela and her elder son Vishnu (21) were so badly wounded that their internal organs spilled out. The younger man, Vipin (19), was found outside the house. Viswanathan fled the scene when the commotion drew the neighbors.
The neighbors immediately took the mother and sons to a hospital in Moovattupuzha and then to the Medical College Hospital at Kolenchery but Sheela and Vipin could not be saved. Vipin is a percussionist while Vishnu works as a driver. Vipin had just returned from the Atham procession in Tripunithrua when his father turned his killer.
Viswanathan is the brother of CPM Moovattupuzha area secretary M R Prabhakaran.
Ernakulam Rural Superintendent of Police Unnirajan and Moovattupuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police K Bijumon led the investigation.