Twin murder charges in US leave Anila’s native village in shock
A former resident of a village in Kerala has been arrested in California for the alleged murder of two women. The news has shocked her home community, where she was remembered as a quiet and successful professional.
Why it matters
This case highlights the intersection of international crime and the impact on close-knit immigrant communities back home.
Tazhachavayal, a sleepy village near Erattupetta, is struggling to come to terms with the news that Anila, one of its former residents, has been arrested in the US for allegedly killing two Malayali women in Milpitas, California.
For neighbours and relatives, the shock is compounded by the stark contrast between the allegations and the woman they knew. Anila, who hails from Moonnilavu panchayat, was regarded as quiet, soft-spoken and cordial, while her family enjoyed considerable goodwill in the locality.
She has been arrested in connection with the deaths of Anjana and Aani at their residence in Milpitas. Those who knew Anila back home say they find it almost impossible to reconcile the allegations with their memories of her. They believed she was leading a happy life in the US with her husband and child, with her parents having joined the family there a couple of months ago.
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