Kerala village in disbelief after ex-resident charged in US killings

The quiet village of Tazhachavayal near Erattupetta is reeling from the news that Anila, a former resident, has been arrested in the US on murder charges. She is accused of killing two Malayali women, Anjana and Aani, at their residence in Milpitas, California.

For those who knew her, the allegations stand in stark contrast to the person they remember. Anila, who hails from Moonnilavu panchayat, was described as quiet, soft-spoken, and cordial. Her family, well-regarded in the locality, was believed to be financially secure; her father is a homoeopathic doctor and her mother a retired cooperative bank employee.

Anila completed her engineering studies at Bharananganam before moving to the US with her husband about four years ago for higher studies and work. She was later employed by a leading private company. Her only brother, Akhil, is settled in Canada.

Local residents said her parents had travelled to California on June 2 to visit their children and were scheduled to return home. Their phones have since been switched off, and they are reportedly under surveillance amid suspicions of a conspiracy. The family home in Moonnilavu is now deserted.

Villagers are at a loss to explain what could have driven Anila to allegedly kill two women she was reportedly close to. She had apparently been distressed for several weeks after losing her job, while her friends had secured stable employment. However, those close to the family said they were unaware of any major problems at work and found it difficult to believe the setback could have led to such an extreme act.

One resident noted that Anila and the victims had recently gone to the movies together and celebrated Onam as a group. With little known about what transpired in the days leading up to the incident, the village is left with more questions than answers.