Drug peddler, tourist guide held for Latvian woman’s rape and murder in Kerala

Mangalore Today News Network

Kerala, May 03, 2018 : Kerala police have arrested two persons for the rape and murder of a Latvian woman, whose decapitated body was found near the famous Kovalam beach last month.

 

Fifty days after the woman was reported missing, Kerala director general of police Loknath Behra on Thursday said a drug-peddler and an unauthorised tourist guide had been arrested and charged with rape, murder, illegal confinement and under narcotic substances act.

The 33-year-old victim was reported missing on March 14 from an Ayurveda hospital on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram where she had come along with her male companion and sister in February for treatment for depression and other related ailments.

Her decomposed and headless body was found from an isolated mangrove near Kovalam beach on April 21 and was identified by her sister based on the dress she was wearing.

Police sources said the tour guide, who was fluent in many foreign languages, was the first to spot the woman sitting on a deserted beach, and befriended her. He reportedly took her to the isolated mangrove on his fibre boat and told his friend. Both reportedly offered her some drugs and raped her.

They allegedly strangled her when she was about to leave, fearing she will alert police. Later, they tried to disguise it as a suicide and tied her body on a tree meticulously, they said.

The case got national attention after her sister and companion started a vigorous campaign to locate her, including on internet. They pasted notices at important places and offered a reward of Rs 1 lakh to help locate her.

Kovalam being a major tourist destination, the case brought much embarrassment for the state too.

An auto-rickshaw driver later told the police that he had dropped her at Kovalam beach, 16km south of Thiruvananthapuram, on the day she disappeared.

Although police found it hard to get clues initially and came under criticism from the victim’s sister, they cracked the case “scientifically”, Behra said, adding that all investigation team members will be honoured.

“It is an unfortunate incident and it should not have happened in a state like Kerala,” the DGP said, adding that her sister had expressed satisfaction with the probe and lauded the investigating team.

The state government has given Rs 5 lakh compensation to her sister and had announced it will bear all the expenses of taking her body to her country.

Later, her sister said the body will be cremated in Thiruvananthapuram and she will take only ashes to her country.

In a press conference recently, she said her parents were yet to come to terms with the tragedy.

A special function will be organised in the state capital on Sunday to pay tribute to the victim.

courtesy:HT