Mangalore: Serial Killing - Status of Prosecution Witness for Cyanide Supplier?

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 25: Pavan Mammade from Puttur, a goldsmith by profession, who allegedly used to supply cyanide to serial killer Mohan Kumar as and when needed, has been arrested by the policemen. They have presently treated him as an accused in the case. It is however, reliably learnt that the policemen are positively considering the desirability of making him a prosecution witness, in an effort to ensure that Mohan Kumar does not go scot free for want of witnesses. In all probability, Mammade will be more than willing to give his nod for such a suggestion, as he will be spared of any punishment, if the court permits him to assist the investigation in the role of an approver.

The policemen have gathered that the cyanide supplied by Mammade to Mohan Kumar was of inferior quality, which is normally used to provide gold covering to silver ornaments. It is learnt that Mammade has confessed to having supplied cyanide to Mohan Kumar, but told the policemen that he was neither aware of the wrongdoings of the serial killer nor suspected any foulplay.

The murders were committed over a five-year period, and the policemen themselves claim that the killer did not leave behind any clues. Even if there had been any clues, because of the shabby handling, they would have been lost. In lodges, Mohan would have given wrong names and it is doubtful as to whether the lodge operators would be able to identify him now. The gold ornaments of the girls were sold to gold merchants, the serial killer had said. But it is not yet clear as to whether records were created for the transactions and whether the ornaments continue to be in their original shape or have been melted. In several cases, the post mortem reports are yet to be received and out of the post mortem reports received so far, deaths due to cyanide consumption has been confirmed in only two cases.

It is said that Mohan had initially tried to eliminate his victims by giving sleeping pills, in the case of his first two to three girls, whom he was able to convince for a marriage with him. However, the girls survived. One of the girls had later told her relatives about Kumar's activities and Mohan was then thrashed and produced  in the Beltangady police station in one of the cases. He was released after he gave back the ornaments he had taken away from the girl, and the family of the girl did not insist on registering a case, it is learnt. Having found that the sleeping pills were ineffective to the damage he expected of them, Mohan, who learnt from newspapers and books that cyanide, was far more lethal, decided use it to kill the girls thereafter, it is gathered.

As use of cyanide has been the common and crucial point of the case, the policemen are expected to try to tighten the noose around the serial killer’s neck. Towards this end, they may be required to heavily lean on the evidence Mammade will be adducing in the court. Because of these things, it is strongly believed that Mammade might be made a prosecution witness.