A woman labourer hailing from Odisha was found brutally murdered at a tea plantationin Kuttikkanam of the Idukki district in Kerala. The body of 33-year old Sabitha Maji was discovered from among the shrubs with her throat cut.
The police have detained three suspects in this regard. All the three are plantation workers.
Sabitha and her husband Kundan Baji had joined as labourers at the 800-acre Misty Mountain estate in Kuttikkanam in January 2016. According to the police, it was Kundan who told them that he along with his neighbours had launched a search for his missing wife, as he could not find her anywhere after returning from work on Sunday.
During the search, the body was found about 200 metres away from their house and had reportedly had around 10 stab wounds on different parts. Police believe she may have been attacked while she had gone to collect firewood from the plantation, as a small heap of firewood was found near her body.
“We will be able to ascertain further details, once post-mortem is done. Since the body was found almost naked, only after the autopsy, can we confirm sexual assault,” says Idukki police chief AV George IPS, while speaking to The News Minute.
Her clothes and jewels were found abandoned near the body.
Latest update: The autopsy report has confirmed sexual assault and two people (neighbours) have been arrested in this regard after they confessed to the crime.