Muthukutty Chandran infamously known as Ripper Chandran (15 December 1950 – 6 July 1991) was an Indian serial killer from Kerala, who was hanged to death in 1991 for committing fourteen murders during robberies. He is currently the last person to be hanged to death in Kerala. Chandran was known as the Ripper, because his style of killing resembled that of the unidentified killer Jack the Ripper from London.^[1] Chandran chose to attack unsecured houses near highways and railway lines. Victims were killed by hammer blows to the head, after which Chandran robbed them. In some instances, after being assaulted, women also became victims of rape. Chandran committed fourteen murders from 1985 to 1986 and was captured by Kerala police in February 1986 in Chikmagalur, Karnataka. After the trial, the court sentenced him to death by hanging in 1987.^[2]

Background

Born on 15 December 1950 in Karinthala, Nileswaram, Chandran stopped his studies after the death of his father. Chandran left his native home at the age of 14 and survived in Karnataka by committing thefts. People in Karinthala mistakenly believed that Chandran, who used to come home with a lot of money, had a business in Karnataka. In Karantaka, he met a man named Thimmmaya. He then assisted Chandran in robberies, later committing murders. It was on 10 September 1985 that Chandran switched from robberies and petty crimes to Ripper style murders. Chandran's first victim was Ramani from Kasargod district, who lived near Chemmad. The next month, Chandran killed three members of a family in Manjeswaram, by hitting them on the head with a pickaxe.^[3]

Investigation and capture

Chandran was identified by the police after committing 13 murders in various places like Chitari, Kuddlu, Chamundikun, Havanchi and Hariyatukka in Karnataka. Houses without men, unsecured houses, houses near the National Highway and railway tracks were the locations chosen by Chandran to do robberies. While the investigation was ongoing, Chandran committed one more murder. On 11 February 1986, the attack at Parassinikadam in Kannur district was the last crime Chandran committed. A week later, on 26 February, Chandran was arrested by the police in Chikmagalur, Karnataka.^[4]

Execution

After the trial in 1987, the court sentenced Chandran to death. He was transferred to Kannur Central Jail and placed in solitary confinement. Chandran's accomplice Thimmayya was initially sentenced to death, but was later acquitted. While in prison, Chandran sent appeals to avoid the death penalty, but to no avail. Chandran's solitary confinement lasted four years until 1991. On 6 July 1991, Chandran was hanged to death in the early morning. The police buried Chandran in a public cemetery after his brother refused to receive his body for fear of public outrage.^[5]

Legacy

In the 2020 Malayalam film Anjaam Pathira, Indrans played the character Ripper Ravi, which was loosely inspired from Ripper Chandran.^[6]

See also

• Ripper Jayanandan
• List of serial killers by country

References