Couple arrested for alleged murder in Kochi

The Kochi City police on Tuesday arrested a husband-wife duo for the alleged murder of a man.

The deceased was identified as Ashik, 32, of Edakochi. He was found severely injured behind the wheel of a refrigerated truck, used for transporting fish, in a deserted area in Edakochi on Monday night. Reportedly, a woman from Palluruthy alerted the neighbourhood, following which he was rushed to the Ernakulam General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Doctors attributed the death to profuse bleeding from a deep wound on the thigh. The woman, in her statement to the police, claimed that the victim had sought her help after meeting with an accident. However, the police launched a probe.

Soon, it emerged that the woman had lodged a petition accusing the victim of rape in March. The police took the woman and her husband into custody shortly thereafter. Preliminary investigation found that the woman had a relationship with the victim in the past.

The police said a case of a missing person was registered when the woman went missing in January. It was on her return that she complained to the police of rape. Ashik was remanded in the case and was later released.

The police suspect that he tried to contact the woman recently, leading to the latest spate of events resulting in his alleged murder. Reportedly, he was asked to reach a location where her husband confronted him. A heated exchange reportedly ensued before he allegedly inflicted Ashik with fatal injuries.

The police suspect that the couple were complicit in the alleged murder, though her role is being verified.