DNA test confirms identity of Wayanad man murdered 18 months ago
Mortal remains to be handed over to family on Wednesday.
Mortal remains to be handed over to family on Wednesday.
Mortal remains to be handed over to family on Wednesday.
Kozhikode: Medical College Police here on Tuesday said that the body exhumed from the Cherambadi forest area in Tamil Nadu was that of Hema Chandran from Sulthan Bathery, who was murdered one and a half years ago in Wayanad.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kozhikode Medical College) A Umesh said the DNA results confirmed the man’s identity. Mortal remains were handed over to the family from the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital in the presence of the ACP and Inspector Baiju K Jose, on Wednesday. The DNA test was carried out at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kannur.
Hemachandran’s body was cremated at the Smrithipadham Crematorium on Mavoor Road in the evening. Before that, the body was kept for public homage at his rented house in Mayanad, near the Medical College.
On June 28, Medical College Police exhumed the body from Cherambadi as part of evidence collection in the murder case. DNA samples from the deceased and his close relatives were later sent for testing, but the results were delayed. The family subsequently approached the Kerala Chief Minister and the district police chief, explaining that they could not postpone the final rituals indefinitely as family members, including his wife, had work commitments.
Initially, police collected samples from Chandran’s mother and children, and later from a male family member for confirmation.
Chandran’s wife, Subisha, had filed a missing complaint at the Medical College Police Station on April 1, 2024. A native of Wayanad, Chandran occupied a rented house in Mayanad, near Kozhikode Medical College.
After confirming that the man was murdered, Medical College Police arrested five persons, including the prime accused, Noushad, along with Jyothish, Ajesh, and Melbin Mathew.