Bengaluru: When Bengaluru police questioned 25-year-old techie J Kenneth for several hours, investigators found him unusually composed despite being accused in one of the city’s most gruesome triple murders.Kenneth and his live-in partner Shwetha were arrested last month for allegedly murdering the latter’s parents, Somasundar and Muthhulakshmi, and her younger sister, Supriya, at his apartment in Seegehalli, KR Pura, on the night of June 22.Beyond the brutality of the crime, investigators said Kenneth’s demeanour during interrogation drew their attention. One question repeatedly surfaced: did he believe he could evade the law, or did he simply fail to consider the consequences?Senior police officers said the investigation suggested the latter. According to them, legal repercussions did not appear to figure in Kenneth’s thinking as the alleged conspiracy unfolded. In fact, sources said, when Shwetha expressed concern that CCTV cameras would expose them, Kenneth dismissed her fears. Instead of reconsidering, he allegedly told her that if she wanted to be with him, she should stay; otherwise, she could leave him and return to her parents.Investigators said this reflected a willingness to plan an irreversible crime without seriously considering the certainty of investigation, arrest, and prosecution.During questioning, officers said Kenneth acknowledged that he should not have committed the crime when asked if he regretted the deaths. However, they claimed he did not display any emotional breakdown or visible remorse. According to investigators, he said there was no point dwelling on the incident because it would only make him “tense and depressed”, adding that he would have to live with what had happened.Police sources further claimed Kenneth’s resentment towards Shwetha’s parents had deepened after they questioned why she was spending so much money on him and allegedly told her he did not deserve her financial support.City police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said several recent cases involving young people point to broader behavioural concerns. “Some heinous cases involving youngsters show several drawbacks in their attitude and way of thinking. First, they lack patience and end up acting without thinking. Second, there is an eagerness to earn money quickly through shortcuts and an excessive dependence on the internet for solutions that may not be appropriate. Lastly, weak emotional bonds with family, friends, and partners can affect the way they think and respond,” he said.Difficulty handling rejection, frustrationCity-based psychiatrist Shashidhar S Bilagi said an increasing inability to cope with frustration, rejection, and conflict could contribute to aggressive behaviour in some individuals.“In today’s times, dealing with frustration, failure, and rejection is becoming increasingly difficult for youngsters and adults alike. Many are poorly equipped to handle even minor confrontations. When faced with conflict or backlash, this can lead to acute restlessness, aggression and agitation, sometimes resulting in abuse, harassment, road rage, or even extreme violence,” he said.Bilagi said traits such as impatience, impulsivity, poor emotional regulation, lack of remorse, and an unrealistic belief that one’s actions will not have consequences may also be seen in some individuals. He added that underlying factors can include poor self-awareness, weak communication and conflict-resolution skills, impaired decision-making, social isolation, and in some cases, undiagnosed or inadequately treated psychiatric conditions.
