Kerala - Kollam   

Two youth from Tuticorin held on charge of murder

Staff Reporter

FOR A FEW SOVEREIGNS: The duo arrested in connection with the murder being brought to the Kollam East Police station on Tuesday.

KOLLAM: The mystery over the murder of a 22-year-old woman, Pechiamma, at a lodge, near the KSRTC bus stand here, on June 16 has been solved with the arrest of two men from Tuticorin on Tuesday. A team from the Kollam East Police station led by the Circle Inspector, N.A. Rasheed, arrested two men from Tuticorin on Tuesday. Ajay Johns(22) and Vimal Raj (22) confessed to killing the woman for her money and ornaments.

Mr. Rasheed said that while Pechiamma was in love with Ajay Johns, he feigned love.

This was at a time when Pechiamma's parents were arranging an alliance for her. Johns and his accomplice, Vimal Raj, were aware that Pechiamma's parents had deposited Rs.2 lakhs in her name in a bank account for her marriage and also purchased 50 sovereigns of gold ornaments for the purpose.

On June 15, when Pechiamma's parents had gone, Pechiamma eloped with Johns. She carried Rs.6,000 in cash and ornaments weighing 35 sovereigns. Raj also accompanied the couple. They reached Thirunellveli, boarded a train for Kollam and arrived here on June 16. After checking into the lodge, Johns tied a thali on her to convince her that he had married her.

Soon afterwards, the duo purchased a soft drink, drugged it and offered it to Pechiamma. When she began yawning, another drugged soft drink was offered and she drank that too. While she was fast asleep, the duo wrapped a towel around her and asphyxiated her as a result of which she died. In order to conceal her identity, the duo slashed her face with a blade.

After committing the murder, Ajay Johns and Vimal Raj left the lodge without arousing anyone's suspicion and reached Tuticorin via Thiruvananthapuram. It was while carrying on with their chores as usual that the police team from Kollam nabbed them.

Mr. Rasheed said that the mobile phone used by Pechiamma provided the vital clue that helped arrest the duo.

. Both Ajay Johns and Vimal Raj were produced before a court and remanded.

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