In Ziro town of Arunachal Pradesh, three individuals from Kerala, a married couple and their friend were found dead in a hotel room on Tuesday. Initial investigations by the police suggested that the trio had died from bleeding caused by cuts on their wrists, with a note recovered from the scene.
The couple, Naveen Thomas (35) and Devi Thomas (35), were from Kottayam district and worked as Ayurveda doctors. Their friend, Arya B Nair (29), a school teacher from Thiruvananthapuram, had accompanied them on the trip, as reported by various media outlets.
Superintendent of Police Keni Bagra of Lower Subansiri district said the trio checked into the hotel on March 28 and stayed together in the same room. Before they arrived in Arunachal Pradesh, Arya was reported missing by relatives on March 27.
Subsequent investigations revealed that Arya had traveled with Naveen and Devi from Kerala to Guwahati before reaching Arunachal Pradesh, as reported. Hotel staff noted that the three individuals were active until March 31.
However, on April 1, they were not seen, prompting the staff to conduct a welfare check. After receiving no response to calls or knocks, the staff entered the room and discovered the deceased. Following this discovery, the local police were informed.
A case of unnatural death has been registered by the Arunachal Pradesh police. The recovered note contained a phone number linking to the couple’s family. SP Keni Bagra emphasized that the motive behind their presence in Arunachal Pradesh is under investigation.
Soorya Krishnamoorthy, a cultural activist from Kerala, shared that Devi’s father, Balan Madhavan, suspected that the deaths were the result of black magic. He described the deceased as a well-educated and established individuals.
Monichan Kizhakkedam, the president of Meenadom panchayat in Kottayam, revealed that the couple had shifted from their Ayurveda practice to engage in online trading. Furthermore, it came to light that Naveen and Devi had some involvement in black magic.