Kottayam: An anganwadi worker was discovered dead in a forested area in Gavi, Pathanamthitta, on Thursday morning. Police have taken a tribal youth, Vinod Kumar, a native of Moozhiyar, into custody in connection with the incident.
Details of the Incident
The woman, a native of Tamil Nadu, was residing near Gavi. She reportedly left her home around 8:30 am to walk to the anganwadi, approximately 3 km away, a route that passes entirely through dense forest. When she failed to reach the anganwadi, locals and forest guards conducted a joint search and found her body in a stream. There were no signs of an animal attack; however, the unnatural circumstances of death prompted locals to alert the police.
Police Investigation
Police believe Kumar was stalking the victim for several days. They found evidence that he built a makeshift hut in the forest and stayed there with the intent of attacking her. He is believed to have waited along the Gavi-Meenar route and assaulted her. Police said she was killed during a sexual assault attempt.
Forest guards received information that Kumar boarded a KSRTC bus at Gavi heading towards Vandiperiyar in Idukki after the incident. He was subsequently apprehended by forest officials at Vallakkadavu forest check post and was handed over to the police. Moozhiyar police have registered a case.
Accused's Confession
During initial questioning, the accused denied the crime. However, he later told investigators that he was in love with the woman and went to meet her. He claimed that when he grabbed her, she fell and struck her head on a stone, after which he drowned her in the stream and suffocated her. Vandiperiyar police questioned the accused first, and Moozhiyar police are expected to take him into custody for further investigation.
It was also reported that the accused has a prior attempt to murder case against him. A 13-year-old girl, reported to be his niece, was also with him at the time of arrest.
