Kerala Police Confirm Death Of Woman Missing For 15 Years, Book Husband, After 'Murder Tipoff'

The woman's teenage son has rejected these claims, and insisted that his mother, Kala, is still alive. He also rejected the allegations against his father, Anil Kumar, who is currently in Israel. 

Anil has been asked by the police probe team to return.

The Kerala Police have confirmed that a woman who has been missing for 15 years is dead, saying her husband is the prime suspect in the case. However, her teenage son has rejected these claims, and insisted that his mother, Kala, is still alive. He also rejected the allegations against his father, Anil Kumar, who is currently in Israel. 

The son told reporters that the allegations had brought shame to the family, adding that "nothing happened 15 years ago", PTI reported. 

He said his mother hadn’t contacted him since she disappeared from the house years ago, but claimed the police had found no indications of murder. When the teen was asked if he had contacted his father, he said Anil had told him not to worry about the new developments. Anil also reportedly told his son that he could not return yet owing to some debt.

According to an IANS report, Anil has been asked by the police to return as they investigate the disappearance of Kala, who was last seen in 2009. Anil had reportedly accused her of infidelity around the time. 

PTI quoted a relative as saying that Kala had told her she was living with a man in Palakkad, and they had believed so far she was alive and well.

Police Findings

The case was reopened after police received an anonymous letter a few months ago that alleged Anil killed Kala and buried her in a septic tank at his home.

The police said on Tuesday that Kala had disappeared from Anil’s home in Mannar, Alappuzha, when she was 20, and confirmed that she was dead. The confirmation came after a seven-hour-long search involving two septic tanks at Anil's home reportedly yielded some evidence. 

Alappuzha Superintendent of Police Chaitra Teresa John said a case has been lodged against Anil. 

PTI reported that a labourer, Soman, who helped the police collect vital evidence from the septic tanks on Tuesday had raised suspicion that some chemical had been poured inside. 

"I have been doing septic-tank-related jobs for years. So, I can feel it when I get down into the tank if any chemicals are poured inside it. Here, some chemical, which can even powder stones and human bones, was poured," the labourer, Soman, was quoted as telling a TV channel.

Soman said the material recovered included suspected pieces of human bones, a locket, a hair clip, and the "elastic of a dress". These have been handed over to the police. 

Kala’s brother, an auto driver, said the new revelations were shocking, adding that he had never had any doubts towards the accused. Five people are currently in police custody in connection with the case, and their arrests would be recorded soon, police said, as reported by PTI.