The murder of Paul M. George, an Executive Director of the Muthoot M. George Group, and son of Group Chairman M.G. George, remains shrouded in mystery even after 12 hours of the incident.
Mr. George was stabbed fatally five times by unidentified assailants near Ponga on the Alappuzha-Changanassery Road here around 12.30 a.m. on Saturday. Manu, a friend who was accompanying him, sustained knife injuries on his arm. Manu is presently undergoing treatment in the Alappuzha General Hospital.
According to Vinson M. Paul, Inspector General of Police (Ernakulam Range), who inspected the crime scene, said the police were yet to receive any leads that could throw more light on the incident.
“As of now, all that we can confirm is that Paul M. George has been murdered and that his friend has been injured. We have just started the investigation,” he told The Hindu over telephone.
Mr. George (32), reportedly arrived with his friends at Mararikulam, 15km from the district headquarters, on Friday, where he inspected the construction work of the group’s Rs.150 crore-resort. The resort was under his supervision after he took charge of the group’s Hospitality division around three months back.
He is said to have left to spend the night at the group’s resort at Champakulam, on the Alappuzha-Changanassery Road. It is from here that the police are trying to verify what happened exactly.
There are different versions of the journey. One claims that Mr. George was accompanied by another person apart from his friend. This person and the Ford Endeavour that they travelled in were missing. There are also reports of 12 assailants who came in a Tempo Traveller.
Mr. George’s driver — who was reportedly asked by Mr. George to follow him in his personal vehicle — found his employer and Manu lying injured on the roadside near Ponga. The driver is now being questioned by the police.
The body of Mr. George was handed over to the relatives after the autopsy at the Alappuzha Medical College.
