Kerala snake bite murder: Police to conduct post-mortem of carcasses of two snakes

Thiruvananthapuram: Police, investigating the mysterious snake-bite homicide of Uthra S (25) in south Kerala’s Kollam district on May 7, on Tuesday determined to conduct a autopsy on the carcasses of two snakes, a viper, and a cobra, which had bitten the deceased two months aside, in a bid to gather extra scientific proof.

So far, two individuals, together with the deceased’s husband, Sooraj, and an area snake handler, have been arrested for letting a cobra unfastened in Uthra’s room on May 6, which led to her loss of life a day later. The deadly second chew occurred when she was present process remedy for the primary chew by a viper at her husband’s residence two months in the past.

“We never came across such a case in the recent past. We have to collect maximum scientific evidence to corroborate the crime. Our preliminary investigation shows that it was a well-planned and executed murder. We have sought veterinary surgeons’ help for the post-mortem of the two snakes,” stated S Harishankar, Kollam rural superintendent of police (SP), who’s supervising the probe.

Circumstantial and scientific proof would maintain the important thing to crack the case, as there aren’t any direct witnesses within the homicide, he added.

The cold-blooded homicide has shocked many after final 12 months’s cyanide murders in north Kerala, the place a girl allegedly killed six of her relations by serving cyanide-laced meals. Many criminologists stated the Kollam homicide incident is a primary of its sort within the state.

Earlier, the deceased mother and father had filed a police criticism alleging that Sooraj and his relations typically harassed her for dowry. The couple had received married two years in the past and has a one-year son.

Her father alleged that he had gifted over 100 sovereigns of gold and a brand new automobile to appease her demanding in-laws.

The probe revealed that Sooraj had purchased a cobra from a snake handler for Rs 10,000. On May 6, he reportedly took the snake to Uthra’s paternal home in Anchal, the place she was present process remedy for the reason that first snake chew two months in the past.

The police stated after Uthra fell asleep, Sooraj allegedly took out the snake from the bottle and threw it on her. He remained awake all night time to make sure that he may escape unscathed. He left the room within the morning and began studying a newspaper on the verandah. Soon, Uthra’s mom discovered her daughter mendacity unconscious within the mattress. She was rushed to a hospital, the place docs stated she died of a snake chew.

Later, when the room was searched, the relations discovered a cobra, which was killed by Sooraj. The couple slept in an air-conditioned room and it was troublesome to imagine that he didn’t discover the snake earlier than, Uthra’s mother and father alleged of their police criticism. The forest division has additionally filed a case in opposition to each the arrested accused of catching and killing a cobra and viper beneath the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Police stated Sooraj plotted the homicide to seize her property and marry one other lady. An investigating officer stated Sooraj’s mother and father and different relations could be interrogated quickly.

Kerala Women’s Commission has ordered that Uthra’s son ought to be handed over to her mother and father instantly.

State Forest Minister Okay Raju, who additionally belongs to Anchal, has congratulated the police workforce that cracked the case. “I know the victim’s family members. We’ll ensure justice to them,” he stated.