Man found dead inside parked SUV

A 50-year-old man was found dead inside a parked SUV at Peroor near Karyavattom on Sunday evening. Police suspect the prolonged time spent inside the sealed, air-conditioned vehicle may have proved fatal.

The deceased has been identified as Rajeev, a native of Aniyoor. The incident came to light when a group of children arrived at the local ground to play and noticed a man lying motionless inside the vehicle. They alerted residents, who informed the police.

Officers reached the spot and broke open a window to gain entry. Rajeev was found dead inside the Mahindra Thar. According to police, the vehicle had been parked at the ground since Saturday evening. Children who regularly play there told investigators that Rajeev had spoken to them on Saturday before they left. When they returned on Sunday, they found him unresponsive inside the vehicle.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Rajeev may have arrived on Saturday evening and remained inside the vehicle overnight. Police suspect he may have fallen asleep with the air-conditioning running, possibly leading to asphyxiation or carbon monoxide poisoning. The exact cause of death, however, can only be confirmed after the post-mortem examination.

“The primary assessment suggests that Rajeev arrived at the Peroor ground on Saturday evening and interacted with children who were playing there. It appears he remained at the location after they left,” a police source said.

Kazhakoottam police have registered a case of unnatural death. The body has been shifted to Govt Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, for autopsy. Further investigation is under way.