Gold ornaments stolen from murdered DMK leader's body; Punalur police begin investigation

KOLLAM: A complaint surfaced of gold ornament theft from a dead body inside the hospital in Kollam. The incident took place at the Punalur Taluk Hospital in Kollam. The jewellery was stolen from the body of the slain DMK women's wing Kollam district secretary Shalini. The Punalur police have registered a case based on a complaint from the hospital's nursing department.

Shalini was killed on the 22nd of last month by her husband, Isaac Mathew, who later appeared on social media to confess to the crime. Before shifting Shalini's body to the morgue of the taluk hospital, the emergency department employee had kept the jewellery in the cupboard. The body contained jewellery weighing 20 grams, including a pair of anklets, a pair of earrings, two rings, and a bangle. Shalini's mother, Leela, came to the hospital three days ago to collect the jewellery, but found it to be missing. The hospital authorities informed Leela that the jewellery had been stolen and that a complaint had been filed with the police.

Even two weeks ago, Leela had visited the hospital to retrieve the ornaments, but had to return empty-handed after the nurses informed her that the cupboard key was with another staff member. The nursing staff filed a complaint with the police, stating that the theft took place between the 8th and 11th of this month. The Punalur police registered a case and started an investigation into the incident.