Kozhikode missing youth’s death: Police intensify search for remains in Sarovaram

Kozhikode: On Thursday morning, police resumed the third day of the search for the mortal remains of missing youth Vigil Velathipadikkal in the presence of the prime accused, Nikhil Kulangara Kandy. Investigators said the accused confessed to dumping Vigil’s body in the Sarovaram wetlands after tying a stone to it. Search operations are being carried out with the assistance of cadaver-detection dogs.

The area, a mangrove-covered wetland located near Markaz International School, has posed major challenges to the probe team due to its muddy terrain and dark water.

The search is being led by Elathur police under the supervision of Kozhikode Town Assistant Commissioner T K Ashraf. Excavators were deployed after a pathway was cleared to bring machinery to the site. On Wednesday, operations were halted after six hours when the excavator became stuck in the mud, forcing officers to drain parts of the swamp with the help of a motor before continuing. Earlier, police took the accused to the Kallayi railway station premises as part of evidence collection.

Police confirmed Vigil’s death on August 5, five years after he went missing, and arrested his close friends Nikhil and Deepesh. He was allegedly given a fatal drug overdose by the accused.