Kochi aviation student's murder: Boyfriend bludgeoned her in breakup rage

Kochi: Kalady police on Wednesday confirmed that the death of 19-year-old Chithrapriya, whose decomposed body was found in Malayattoor on Tuesday, was a case of murder, committed by her friend Alan (21). The accused is currently under preventive arrest at Kalady police station, though his formal arrest is yet to be recorded for murder. 

District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) M Hemalatha said the police have found that the crime was committed by Alan. “It is a murder case, and it was committed by her friend. He is in custody, but his arrest is yet to be recorded. We are verifying the details in the case,” she said. 

According to police sources, Alan and Chithrapriya had known each other since their school days and were allegedly in a relationship. However, the relationship had reportedly turned strained in recent months, eventually leading to a breakup. But they kept contacting each other. The police believe the murder occurred following a heated argument between the two.

“Alan has confessed that there was an argument and he committed the crime out of sudden provocation. He allegedly hit her on the head with a rock, causing severe injuries,” a senior police officer said. The police have recovered a blood-stained rock from near the body. However, officials said the confession and other details needed to be verified further, and they are awaiting the post-mortem details.

The police are also examining whether the crime was committed at the same spot where the body was found and whether the accused was under the influence of alcohol at the time. “These aspects can be confirmed only after completing the investigation and analysing the post-mortem report,” the officer added.

Chithrapriya, an aviation degree student in Bengaluru, had returned home recently for vacation. On Saturday night, she attended an Ayyappan Vilakku festival, held in connection with the Sabarimala Mandalakalam pilgrimage, at Mundangamattom with her family. After returning home, she changed her clothes and went out again, telling her parents she was heading to a nearby shop. But she never returned.

When repeated calls to her phone went unanswered, her family initially believed she had gone back to the festival venue. Later, they filed a missing-person complaint with Kalady police, following which a missing case was registered, and a search operation was launched.

The police later traced CCTV footage showing Chithrapriya and Alan together on a motorcycle a few hundred metres from where the body was recovered. Alan had also been missing for two days and returned on Monday, after which he was questioned by the police. His initial statements, in which he claimed to have dropped her at a junction after meeting her, were found to be inconsistent.

Some of the local residents have alleged that the focus on election-related duty had affected the seriousness of the search since many policemen were on security deployment for the election. However, the police denied any such delay. “We started the search right after we received the complaint,” said a senior police officer. 

While the search continued, Chithrapriya’s body was found on Tuesday afternoon in a vacant plot near Sebiyoor Road towards Manappattuchira, close to the base of the Malayattoor Kurishumudi hill. Local residents who were part of the search noticed a foul smell and alerted the police. The body was found in a decomposed state, and preliminary forensic examination confirmed her identity. Injuries were found on her head, leading police to suspect homicide even before the confession. On further interrogation, Alan revealed what happened.

The police said Alan’s preventive arrest was recorded on Tuesday night to avoid any law-and-order issues and for his own security. His formal arrest in the murder case will be recorded after receiving the post-mortem details, conducted at the Ernakulam Government Medical College on Wednesday.

The police are also analysing Chithrapriya’s mobile phone and other digital evidence to reconstruct her movements prior to the crime. While CCTV footage showed two other men on another motorcycle in the area, police clarified that they are not suspects at this stage.

“As of now, Alan is the only accused. However, we are not ruling out any angle,” police sources said.

Further details are expected after the autopsy report and continued interrogation of the accused.