DANGER ZONE

                       

NOTE: This story is based on Author’s fiction. It doesn’t apply to any real-life incidents or historical references.

GUNA CAVES

SOUTH WESTERN GHATS RAINFOREST

KANNIYAKUMARI DISTRICT

Western Ghats also known as Sahyadri(Benevolent Mountains) is a mountain range that covers an area of 140,000 km² in a stretch of 1,600 km parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight "hottest hot-spots" of biological diversity in the world. It is sometimes called the Great Escarpment of India. It is a biodiversity hotspot that contains a large proportion of the country's flora and fauna; many of which are only found in India and nowhere else in the world. According to UNESCO, Western Ghats are older than Himalayan mountains. It also influences Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer.^[1] The range runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain, called Konkan, along the Arabian Sea. A total of thirty-nine areas including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests were designated as world heritage sites - twenty in Kerala, ten in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu and four in Maharashtra.

The range starts near the Songadh town of Gujarat, south of the Tapti river, and runs approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu ending at Marunthuvazh Malai, at Swamithope, near the southern tip of India. These hills cover 160,000 km² (62,000 sq mi) and form the catchment area for complex riverine drainage systems that drain almost 40% of India. The Western Ghats block southwest monsoon winds from reaching the Deccan Plateau.^[8] The average elevation is around 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

The area is one of the world's ten "Hottest biodiversity hotspots" and has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insects species and 290 freshwater fish species; it is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. At least 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.

There are so many caves in the Western Ghats of Kanniyakumari. Near to the caves, there are so many villages, which are isolated from the outside world. The people are from the farming background. They are less educated and poor.

12 MAY 1998

On 12^th May 1998, a 14-year old Albert decides to go for some caves located inside the dense rainforests of Western Ghats to see what’s there inside the rainforest. For the past few days, Albert is eager to know what’s happening in the caves of the rainforests, that are close to Western Ghats.

Since, so many local tribes believed that there’s something inside the cave, which was something mystic. That night, Albert walked for some distance in that cave. After going to the top of the mountains through rainforests, he noticed small caves to large caves from the either sides. Already the place is dark.

He doesn’t have any torchlight in his hands. Despite the problem, he turned to his right sides. Albert walked for a few distance. When he was walking towards the cave, there were so many caves. From one of the caves, he took notice of some shadows, coming from one of the caves. That shadow is visible till the entrance of that cave. He understood that, “The shadow comes from this cave.”

Since Albert never saw this kind of shadows in any of the caves in the mountains, he decides to take a note of this cave. So that, he could know the answers for his questions- “What could be there in this cave? For what the shadow is coming from that particular cave?” Being interested to know answers, he walked towards the cave. However, the distance between his village and the cave increased as he moved towards the cave. When he neared the cave, he heard the sounds and screaming of some mysterious person. But, he doesn’t know whether they are crying or laughing!

With several thoughts and doubts about the screaming(whether there are any parties, etc.), he reached the cave. When he reached 300 meters nearby the cave, he heard the loud screaming of a person. He didn’t scream simply. He’s shouting because of pain and crying. Albert’s fear increased as he neared the cave. His heartbeats were high. After nearing to that cave, he finds out that there is a group of people inside the cave.

While one person is screaming in pain, the other persons were singing songs. However, Albert’s fear increased. His curiosity to know what’s happening in the cave made him to move forward towards the cave. When he’s standing 10 meters away from that cave, he hides behind the rock. He thinks a twice whether he should see what’s happening in the cave.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly moved towards the entrance by closing his eyes. Slowly he looked at the cave to know what exactly is there in that cave after ensuring that no one have seen him. But, Albert was shocked and stunned once he took notice of that person. The inner-feelings pestered him to save his life. His adrenaline rush was high. He immediately escaped the cave, without turning back.

Albert never saw such a thing in his life. After escaping from the cave, he didn’t reach his village. Instead he ran towards a police station, that’s almost 15 kilometers from his village. When he reached the station, he started to speak with the police officers. Unable to speak anything, he started to blabber. Albert’s body is wet due to sweating.

The police was making him to relax. Ensuring that he is alright, Inspector Aravinth asked him: “What happened? Why you rushed like this?”

He couldn’t explain that what he seen in that cave.

“Sir. The cave was full of blood. In that place, there’s a vampire. There, I noted a bloody monster.” Albert said to the police officers. But, they assume that, he is blabbering something nonsense. Police thought nothing will be serious. But, the boy pleads with the police officers to come with him to that cave. He added that: “Something is there in that cave. Bad omen is surrounding that place. Someone is dying in that place.” He asked them the reasons for not believing him.

But, the police Inspector Aravinth is not ready to hear his statement even though Sub-Inspector Anuvishnu tries believing Albert’s point of view. Aravinth asked the boy to go for his home stating that: “If any information comes regarding this, they would definitely follow up.” Aravinth took Albert in his jeep to drop him back in the village, from where he came to the police station.

Actually, the police officers thought that: “The boy is pranking” when he uttered the word “Vampire.” Aravinth went to do their normal duty. While, Albert goes inside his room to sleep in his bed. The next day, the incident that he have saw in that cave still comes and go in his dreams.

He is stubborn to take the police to that cave. Once again he goes to the station. There, he requested them to visit that cave. Now, Anuvishnu believed Albert.

“Ok boy. Tell me where’s that cave? I will make a visit to that cave and take a look into that cave!” So, Anuvishnu and Albert started their journey towards the cave. However, they didn’t return back even during afternoon.

Aravinth and his co-police officers were perplexed. Since, the two have not yet returned. Aravinth contacted him. But, Anuvishnu didn’t respond. The police team and Aravinth starts panicking. Since, the duo didn’t return. The sun also have set in the east side. They headed to the village of Albert. Thinking that there’s some possibilities for Albert to return, they goes to his house so that they could learn the whereabouts of Anuvishnu.

But, Albert’s parents told that their son also not return yet. Now, the police team learns that, “Anuvishnu and Albert have not even spoke to anyone since they left the house.” Everyone realized that, “The two are missing.” The police realized this to be an emergency situation.

Since there were very few officers to assist the police team, they contacted Indian Army for help. Aravinth said that: “One of their police officer is missing alongside a 14-year old boy.” The Central Government sent separate Indian Army team for search. Police and Army started to search that cave. At the same time, they notice a shadow from one of the caves. They guess that, “This could be the exact cave from where, the shadow comes.” The team went inside to know what’s there in that cave. After seeing the cave, Indian Army and police team were stunned.

SIX MONTHS BACK

DECEMBER 1997

Six months back in December 1997, there were two brothers. Their names are: Joseph and Stephen respectively. Their main duty is to travel all over Kanniyakumari, where they would con and cheat so many people. After cheating them, they looted their money, through which they were living their whole life without any hurdles. At that point of time, they make a plan for biggest heist. They planned to go for a remote village where they decides to cheat the poor tribes using the name of Ancient God- Inca. That two brothers said to these people that, “They are Prophets.” The brothers promised to the people that, “They would make them rich by eradicating the poverty and difficulties.”

The village which they chose was Pechiparai. The village is straightly located in the northern side of Guna Caves. As thought by the brothers, these people were innocent and poor. Only 20 to 30 people were living in that place. As planned, they suddenly went to that village and started their drama.

People believed by brother’s speech skill. Since the people don’t have connections with the outside world, they blindly believed that: “The brothers are god’s messenger.”

“We are going to become rich. God have finally opened a door for all our difficulties.” The people said to themselves. People behaved like masonry slave for them. They gave whatever the brothers asked them to give. A few months went like this. Few people had doubt on them. Some discussed among themselves, “Why didn’t they become rich?” People almost realized that, they grabbed everything from us. This news started to spread like a fire in the village.

Finally, this news reached the brother’s ears. The brothers didn’t made any plans to escape the village although they have used the wealth of that village. For some unknown reasons, the brothers went to a nearby city of South Kanniyakumari. There, they recruits a girl named Mariam Jose, who’s working as a prostitute.

The brothers said their profession. Further, they detailed their recent heist in a village for which they said to the people that, “They are messengers, sent by the god.” She learned the job description from Stephen and Joseph. They convinced her to act like, “She is the real god so that people would believe them once again.”

This idea attracts Mariam Jose. She liked it a lot. After receiving the amount from Stephen, she agreed to act as the god. With her brother, Mariam and the two brothers once again went to the village. When they went there, the brothers took Mariam to a nearby caves of Western Ghats by crossing the dense rainforests. There, they hides her in a place after she wears her traditional costumes. Asking her to hide in that place, the brothers bought the people to that cave telling them that, “There’s an important ritual progress to go on.”

The brothers does a magic trick by evoking smoke all over the cave. At that point of time, the brothers signaled Mariam to appear. Mariam unexpectedly jumped to the place, where the people were standing. She declared herself as the god and said, “I am the reincarnation of Inca.” Mariam ordered them to do what she instructs. Else, she would kill them all. Since she acted aggressive, the village people started believing her. People asked for the brother’s forgiveness by saying that, “She is god’s messenger. They misunderstood the brothers without giving a second thought.” They kneeled in front of Mariam when asking for her forgiveness.

At this point of time, Mariam planned to execute another plan, that the brothers didn’t even plan. She very well know that she is acting. The deep respects that she got from the people, the deep fears that they gave to her have deeply impacted her although she acted. In her whole life as a prostitute, she obeyed what others instructed her. Now, she got a group of people, whom she could be able to control using her powers. This deeply affected the psychology of Mariam. She started to believe that, “She is God Inca.” Though she started to think herself as god, she didn’t do good deeds for people. Instead, she used violence to control the people. Putting the brothers as her team head, she started exploiting the people by treating them as her slaves.

The brothers were shocked when Mariam took control of everything. Since the goal is same and people are in their control. Now without any problems, they can do their money heist. The brothers executed things, that are ordered by Mariam. A week later, Mariam cruelly tortured the village people.

Not only this. She further said: “If she wanted to survive, she need to drink blood.” She immediately ordered the people to bring blood for her. In fear, the village people brought the blood of goat, cows, hens and several small animals. They gave it to Mariam. The culture of drinking blood continued. Keeping the people in her control, Mariam continued to drink the blood of animals.

During this point of time, two people realized the reality on April 1998. They firmly believed that, “Mariam is not a god.” And the brothers are not messengers, sent by the god. Realizing this to be fake, they planned to escape from the village anyhow. However, the news somehow reached the brother’s ears.

The brothers informed this plan to Mariam.

Thinking for some time, Mariam said: “Okay. Ask all the people to gather inside the cave by night.” Along with the two people, the villagers gathered inside the cave. There, Mariam stood in front of the villagers. Without uttering a single word, she looked at the face of village people. She asked the two(who planned to escape from the village) to come in front of her. Now, Mariam ordered the people to kill them.

Without replying anything to her, they jumped towards the two. They killed them immediately. Taking the dead body of those two, she asked the people to tie it with a rope. After the people tied the dead bodies, Mariam took a cup in her hands and filled the bloods, which were dropping from those two people. Once the cup is filled with the blood, she drank the blood. Having tasted the human blood for the first time, she decides, “I am no longer going to drink the blood of animals. I am going to drink the bloods of human beings if I have to survive.” For the next few weeks, people gathered in the cave with fears and anguish in their face. They additionally thought: “Who’s the next victim of Mariam!”

Standing in front of the people, Mariam used to select her next victims during these months. When the victims are selected, the victim’s own friends and family members will plunge in and kill them. She would drink their blood, after they are hanged in a rope. For every week, this incident became routine to those villagers. But situation turned even more worse and cruel.

Mariam thought, “She has decided to change the plan. Since, the blood’s purity is lost when people are beaten up and killed.” Once she selected the victim, she tied up the victim. Then, she mercilessly cuts their heart so that she can drink their blood.

PRESENT

On 12^th May 1998, when Albert went inside the cave to witness what exactly is happening. There, an alive person’s heart had been forcibly cut. After witnessing this, he rushed to the police station to inform the same.

The next day, Anuvishnu and Albert came to the cave. Mariam’s cult members comes to know about the presence of Anuvishnu and Albert. Dragging them mercilessly, they tied these two the same way, through which they tied up their previous victims. Mariam cuts the heart of Albert and Anuvishnu. After cutting their hearts, she drank their blood with the help of the cup. Now, the Army team and police officers go to the village. But, the villagers were not there. All of them have went to the cave.

Because, Mariam used these people as a bait to escape from the police force. She very well knew that a big police force is going to come in order to search Albert and Anuvishnu. Once the Army team goes inside the cave, a shootout ensues. During the shootout, some village people died along with the brothers. The police went inside the cave to find out the rope. So many blood stains were there all over the place. Human remains are found.

Police and Army team once again return to the village to get the remains of Albert and Anuvishnu. The police arrested Mariam and her brother, who were hiding in a house. Mariam have drunk the blood of fifteen people during these six weeks. She and her brother got 15 years jail sentence by the Madras High Court.

The remaining people, who blindly executed the orders of Mariam without giving any second thoughts were sent to Rehabilitation center as per the order of High court judge.

FEW YEARS LATER

TANJORE

2022

“The people refused to testify against Mariam. This was the main thing, that have really shook my head.” Inspector Aravinth, now 54 year old recalled the verdict for the atrocities. Journalist Sai Adhithya had been listening to this case. Since he have been deeply investigating this curious case for so many years. All these incidents were actually said by Aravinth. Now, he asked Aravinth: “Why didn’t they testify sir?”

“No eye witness came against them even when the judge said that, they would receive less imprisonment. The people thought jail punishment to be better than earning the wrath of Inca god. It’s because of their blind fear and mad faith.”

“Is Mariam alive sir?” asked Sai Adhithya to which, Aravinth said: “When she was in the prison itself, she died.” His hands shivered when he talked about Mariam.

“Thank you so much sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Sai Adhithya got up. He seeks the blessings of Aravinth and took his bike towards his house. While, Aravinth gets a call from his senior police officer to deal with the case of Archana, a 17-year old dalit girl, who hanged in a ceiling fan. Since, her school management forcibly asked her to convert as a Christian. The senior officer asked Aravinth to catch the person, who recorded the confessions of Archana. Since, it had been uploaded in Facebook and Youtube. As a henceforth there’s widespread rage and anger among the public.

Before he moves to handle his next case, Aravinth looks at the 1998 newspaper, which have the headline: "Guna Caves- The dangerous zone, where people's blood have been drunk by a human vampire."