THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The charred body of a former panchayat member was found in a vacant field in Mannammoola in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. The body of Congress leader and former member of Vattiyoorkavu panchayat Ajayakumar (66) was found in a field at Irumbanath Lane in Mannammoola.

The body was discovered by the owner of a nearby plot when he cleared the growth in the area after noticing a foul smell. It is believed that the body was older than two days. Upon examination, the police found his identity card. Peroorkada police said that there was no mystery in the incident and the primary conclusion was that it was a suicide.

Ajayakumar's relatives had lodged a complaint with the Sreekaryam police saying that he had been missing since last Tuesday. Ajayakumar, who went to attend the posthumous function of a relative in Nedumangad on Tuesday, left there at noon. He had been living in his daughter's house in Sreekaryam for many years. The body has been shifted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College mortuary. An autopsy will be performed today. Ajayakumar is survived by wife Indira, daughters Shiny and Sheena.