KOCHI: A local shopkeeper revealed to the media that Ashaak Alam, the accused in the case of kidnapping and murdering a five-year-old girl in Aluva was a regular alcoholic. The police had earlier stated that he had arrived in Aluva two days ago.

Ashaak is a habitual drinker and does not go to work. It is common for him to get drunk and create disturbances. Binu also stated that Ashaak was drunk and unconscious in the verandah of his shop at around 6 pm yesterday and he was unaware of Ashaak's presence after the child was kidnapped. Binu said that when he saw the news, he immediately informed the police. Binu added that Ashaak had sought treatment around 11 am yesterday and had left the prescription at his shop.

The child was playing in the courtyard of the Mukkathu Plaza complex when Ashaak Alam (26) took the child by pretending to be a friend. The child's body was later found among the garbage behind the Aluva market, which is one and a half kilometers away. The police apprehended the culprit within five and a half hours but were unable to gather any information about the child's whereabouts.

This was the second child of Bihar Bishampurpur natives. She was studying in the 1st standard at the Thaikkattukara school complex. After reviewing the CCTV footage of the accused taking the child, the police initiated a search. After boarding the bus, Asfaak went to the garbage heap, which was two stops away, with the child. This was not evident on Friday. At night, the accused was found lying on the verandah of a building at Paravoor junction. He was apprehended at nine o'clock. Asfaak initially claimed that he had handed over the child to a man named Zakir Hussain. Later, he confessed that he had gone to Aluva Market with the child.

The child's body was discovered at the banks of Periyar, where the aqueduct starts, behind the market at ten o'clock in the morning. The body was covered with concrete remains and vegetable waste. The child was only wearing underwear when the body was found. The child was suffocated to death with her own t-shirt. The body was moved to Kalamasheri Government Medical College mortuary. A public homage will be held at the school tomorrow morning from 7.30 to 9. She will be cremated at the public crematorium in Keezhmadu Panchayat.