Two taken in custody for murder of Dalit woman in Kerala

Kochi, May 3

Two persons have been taken into custody in connection with rape and brutal murder of a 30-year-old Dalit woman at nearby Perumbavoor even as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy described the crime as "shocking" and said the culprits will be brought to book.

Police said the two were taken into custody and were being questioned by a police team, headed by Ernakulam Range IG Mahipal Yadav.

However it was not yet known whether they are the real culprits. No details of the ongoing investigation have been revealed by police.

Police said the post-mortem report revealed that the woman, a law student, was subjected to rape and brutal assault using sharp-edged weapons before being murdered at her house on April 28.

Video:  Dalit woman raped like Nirbhaya, reveals autopsy reports

She was found dead in a pool of blood at 8 pm that day by her mother when she reached home from work. Her distraught mother is bedridden after the incident.

"Kerala is shocked by the brutal murder of a young woman.

The culprits will be brought to book and the severest punishment will be ensured to those who are involved in the incident," Chandy said.

 Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has left for Perumbavoor from his constituency Harippad in Alappuzha to visit the victim's mother.

The brutal murder has shocked the state, with women activists and students taking to the streets, demanding justice for the woman.

Soon after details of the murder came to light, CPI(M) had attacked the state government for the "inaction" in the case.

"Police have failed to get any lead about the culprits even five days after the incident," CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had said yesterday.

Rejecting the charge, Chennithala had said a "scientific" probe was on into the incident and asserted that the culprits would be brought to book.

 Police have launched a rigorous manhunt to nab the culprits. — PTI