Woman’s body found in waste pit of Kochi house, murder suspected

Kochi: A partially decomposed body of an unidentified woman was found in a waste pit at an unoccupied house in Ernakulam district. According to police, the body was found in Oonnukal, near Neriamangalam. 

"It is suspected that the woman was murdered. A probe is underway. The victim is yet to be identified," an official at Oonnukkal police station told Onmanorama. 

Police officials suspect the deceased could be a 61-year-old woman from Vengoor in Ernakulam district, who was reported missing several days earlier.

The body was found on the premises of the house that belongs to a Christian priest residing in Kuruppampady, Ernakulam.

On Wednesday, the priest noticed that the kitchen's exit door had been forced open, indicating that someone had broken into the premises. Later, he informed the police, and a case was registered at the Oonnukal police station.

When the owner returned to the property on Friday, he detected a foul smell emanating from the waste pit and alerted the police. A police team soon arrived and recovered the partially decomposed body.

Police officials said that bloodstains were also found inside the house and near the pit.

"The body is in a decomposed state, and identification can only be confirmed after further examination. We suspect it is the missing woman from Vengoor," a senior officer said.

Following the inquest, the body was shifted to Ernakulam Government Medical College, Kalamassery, where a postmortem will be conducted on Saturday, police said.

According to sources, police have taken a woman who lived in a rented house in Neriamangalam into custody in connection with the case. Police told PTI that further investigation is underway to ascertain her involvement.