Drug peddler, guide arrested for Latvian woman’s rape, murder in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala police have arrested two persons for the rape and murder of a Latvian woman whose decapitated body was found near Kovalam beach last month.
Fifty days after the woman was reported missing, Kerala director general of police Loknath Behra on Thursday said a drug peddler and an unauthorised tourist guide had been arrested and charged with rape, murder, illegal confinement and under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The 33-year-old victim was reported missing on March 14 from an Ayurveda hospital on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram where she had come with her male companion and sister in February for treatment for depression and other ailments. Her decomposed body was found from an isolated mangrove near Kovalam on April 21. Police sources said the tour guide was the first to spot the woman sitting on a deserted beach, and befriended her. He reportedly took her to the isolated mangrove and told his friend. Both offered her some drugs and raped her.
They allegedly strangled her when she was about to leave, fearing she will alert the police. Later, they tried to disguise it as a suicide and tied her body to a tree.
The case got national attention after her sister and companion started a vigorous campaign to locate her, including on internet. They also pasted notices at important places and offered a reward of ₹1 lakh to help locate her. An auto-rickshaw driver later told the police that he had dropped the victim at Kovalam beach, 16km south of Thiruvananthapuram, on the day she disappeared. Although police found it hard to get clues initially and came under criticism from the victim’s sister, they cracked the case “scientifically”, Behra said, adding that all investigation team members will be honoured.
“It is an unfortunate incident and it should not have happened in a state like Kerala,” the DGP said, adding that her sister had expressed satisfaction with the probe and lauded the investigating team. Kia Motors: USD 1.3 billion investment for production of 600,000 cars in two phases. First cars roll out September 2019. Plus 20 Tier-i suppliers with total investment of USD 750 million.
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