Woman's murder: Man who lived with her arrested

KATTAKKADA: Police have arrested a suspect in the murder of Peroorkada native Maya Murali (34), who was found dead near her rented house in Kattakkada. The arrested person is Kudappanamkunnu native Ranjith (34), an autorickshaw driver. He had gone into hiding after the incident. The reason for the murder is not clear. Maya Murali had been volunteering as Deputy Warden in Civil Defense in the Fire Force.

The accused, who used to live with Maya, was arrested by the Kattakkada police 12 days after the murder. He was arrested from Idukki. Maya Murali was murdered on April 29. The post-mortem report stated that the cause of death was the injury to the nose and physical assault. After the incident, the autorickshaw driven by Ranjith was found abandoned in an empty backyard in Choondupalaka in Kattakkada.

The police had received information that he had travelled to Kudappanakunnu, Medical College, Peroorkada, Neyyatinkara and many other places in autos and buses without paying money. Following this, the police examined CCTV footage from these places. Soon, the police found that he had travelled to the Cumbum-Theni region. Following this, the police team headed to Idukki.

Ranjith met Maya Murali a year ago when he came to drive the autorickshaw owned by Maya's father. Soon, the two became close. Maya Murali, whose husband passed away some years ago, started living with Ranjith 8 months ago. The two moved to the rented house in Kattakkada two months ago after staying in different places. Locals of the area told the police that the two used to fight all the time. The police will produce Ranjith in court after collecting evidence.