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Probe on into finding of burnt bodies in canals

Staff Reporter

Police stick to assumption that they were from crematoriums

KOCHI: Despite protests from some quarters, the city police are continuing inquiry into the finding of two burnt bodies of women abandoned in canals at Mattancherry on the assumption that they were from crematoriums in the neighbourhood.

The first body was found in May and the second in early July. The police investigated about women reported missing from the area after the first body was found.

"Initially, forensic experts said the body was of a young woman aged around 18. This was later corrected to that of a middle-aged woman. Lot of time was lost in searching for an 18-year-old woman missing from the area," said K.P. Lailaram, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mattancherry, who is heading the investigation.

The police are now waiting for conclusive scientific evidence to come from the Forensic Scientific Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram, where samples of the second body have been sent.

The police are collecting evidences of recent deaths that happened in the neighbourhood, as the body was confirmed to be that of an old woman. The police are awaiting results of chemical analysis of the internal organs and superimposed images of the skull.

"Once the identity of the second body is confirmed, we expect to solve the first one also," Mr. Lailaram said.

Indications are that the police believe the second body to be of a woman who died recently. The internal organs collected from the body were sent for chemical analysis after it was learnt that she had been under medical treatment before her death.

The investigating officers are expecting the results to come by Wednesday.

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