Attappadi double murder: Investigation focuses on West Bengal native

PALAKKAD: The investigation into the suspected double murder in Attappadi, where the body parts of a woman and a girl were found packed in sacks and dumped in the Bhavani River, has now focused on a native of West Bengal. The probe is centred on the partner of the deceased woman.

Police have collected his Call Detail Records (CDR) and are closely monitoring his movements. He is suspected to have left Kerala on Thursday, soon after the murders. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also expanded the probe outside the state.

The deceased woman was a native of Assam. It is not yet clear whether she and the man were married. They had come to Attappadi in search of work. The suspected accused had started working as a labourer at a private person's plantation in Cheerakkadavu only 20 days ago.

The investigation team, led by Agali DySP R. Ashokan, has received information that local residents saw the woman and the man on a bus last Wednesday. They have reportedly been missing since Thursday. According to local residents, they had said they were going to Kottathara Hospital.

The woman’s husband allegedly used to quarrel with her, suspecting that she was in a relationship with another man. Investigators are also examining whether this dispute could have led to the murders.

Police suspect that the bodies were cut into pieces using a machine-like weapon, packed in sacks and dumped in the river.

The bodies were subjected to post-mortem examination at Thrissur Government Medical College. The investigation team said the exact circumstances would become clear only after the forensic examination and post-mortem reports are received. Thrissur Commissioner Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh visited the crime scene and also inspected the residence of the person suspected to be involved in the murders.