Malappuram: The body found on the premises of a former panchayat employee's house in Malappuram's Tuvvur belongs to the missing woman Sujitha, police confirmed on Tuesday.
Police have arrested four persons in connection with the incident.
The body was found lying in a ditch in the property of Vishnu, who works at the panchayat. The police found the body during a search conducted at 9pm on Monday.
Sujitha, who was a Kudumbashree worker and temporary employee at the Krishi Bhavan, and Vishnu, a temporary employee of the panchayat, were closely acquainted. The murder was reportedly committed in order to get hold of Sujitha’s jewellery.
Vishnu, who is the mandalam secretary of the Youth Congress, is said to have left his employment in the panchayat office before Sujitha went missing.
Besides Vishnu, his father Kunjunni, brothers Vysakh, Jithu and friend Shifan were arrested by the police.
Sujitha, a colleague of Vishnu at the panchayat, has been missing since August 11, when she last reported for work.
Vishnu's house is located near the Tuvvur panchayat office adjacent to the railway tracks.
According to Vishnu, he strangled Sujitha to death on the morning of August 11. After confirming her death, she was hung from the ceiling. He then buried the victim with the help of his accomplices. According to the police, the accused tried to cut off the ornaments from the victim's after the murder.
Sujitha was a Kudumbasree worker and temporary employee at the Krishi Bhavan. Sujitha had informed her family that she was visiting the primary health centre on August 11. The police had discovered that Sujitha's phone was switched off near the panchayat office premises. The investigation that ensued led the cops to Vishnu's house.
The police are struggling to extract the body which has already begun to decompose. A forensic team will retrieve the body on Tuesday morning.
