A man, suspected to have been killed by a wild elephant in Wayanad, was a victim of pre-planned murder, police said on Wednesday, adding that three persons have been detained in connection with the case.
Vakeri-resident Thomas (28), was found dead near a forest path on Saturday morning, triggering suspicion that he was killed by a wild elephant. Local residents even blocked the Mananthavadi-Kutta road for hours, demanding compensation for the victim’s family.
Forensic experts later found certain leads at the scene, sending the police on a murder trail.
The breakthrough came after police interrogated three men. Investigators said the three, along with Thomas, had consumed liquor on Friday night. Following a quarrel, the man was fatally hit on his head with an iron rod.
“The suspects selected the spot to make the crime appear as a wild animal attack,” a police officer said.
The forest department had on Saturday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family, in addition to Rs 1 lakh from the chief minister’s relief fund.