Kerala - Alappuzha   

Boy's disappearance: police call off search in marsh

Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA: The search operations conducted by the Adoor police at a marshy land in Ashramam ward here for Rahul, 8, who was reported missing from Alappuzha since May this year, were called off on Thursday afternoon. The police began the search on Wednesday following the statement in custody of Krishna Pillai, Aviredath Purayidom, Haripad, that he had killed Rahul and dumped the body in the marsh.

The police stopped the search, as they could not recover any evidence on the missing boy. The police pumped out water from the marsh and dug out soil but could not find any evidence.

Meanwhile, Alappuzha District Superintendent of Police Varghese George said the search was conducted at the initiative of the Adoor police and he had only provided security to the accused from any possible attack from the irate public.

Mr. George said Pillai had given statement to advocates that he had killed Rahul but the statement could not be accepted without verification. Mr. George said the police had searched all areas including the marsh adjoining the playground in Ashramam ward from where Rahul was reported missing.

The police said Pillai was likely to be returned to judicial custody on Friday. The CBI, which is investigating the case now, said it did not know anything about the search operations and it was not involved in it.

Meanwhile, the members of a family near Kallupalam in Alappuzha, where Pillai had worked as a domestic help, gave statement to the police that they could not believe that Pillai could harm anybody.

They said Pillai, who was known as Balan in the family, had worked at their home for more than four years and was of gentle nature. He had showed signs of mental problems but did not have any criminal history as far as their knowledge, they said.Sujata, wife of Pillai, also said he had a history of mental trouble.

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Boy's disappearance: police call off search in marsh

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