Police register POCSO case against live-in-partner of woman stabbed to death in Thirunelly

WAYANAD: A POCSO case has been registered against the youth, who stabbed his live-in-partner to death at Appappara in Thirunelly. The POCSO case was registered against him for sexually abusing a girl, a relative of the woman murdered. The police had the other day arrested Dileesh (37) of Kapilakkavu Tharayil, the accused in the case of killing Praveena (34) of Edayoorkunnu on Sunday night. He has been charged with sections including murder, attempt to murder and POCSO. A case has also been filed against him for kidnapping Praveena's nine-year-old daughter. Police said Dileesh has confessed to the crime. He will be produced in the Kalpetta POCSO court today.

Praveena and her children lived in the house of the plantation of a Kannur native looked after by her uncle Kelu. Praveena, who was estranged from her husband got acquainted with Dileesh. Police said that a verbal dispute between the two led to the murder. The murder was committed on Sunday at 7:30 pm. Praveena's eldest daughter Anargha (14) sustained injuries on her neck and ear. She was first taken to Wayanad Govt Medical College and later to Kozhikode Govt Medical College Hospital for better treatment.

Dileesh was caught from near an abandoned house in a coffee plantation, about 300 meters away from the house where the murder was committed. Praveena's missing daughter was also traced along with Dileesh. Dileesh, who was standing with a knife on the terrace of a room built next to the thatched house, was caught with the help of forest guards. The child was shifted to a safe place by Thirunelly police.