A migrant worker from West Bengal has been detained on the charge of murdering a senior citizen at Kalady, early on Sunday morning.
Jose, 60, a sand-mining worker who was residing at Kozhikandath House, Arattukadavu, Kalady, was found dead in a water body near his house. He used to bathe in it daily.
Detained on suspicion
The Kalady Police have taken into custody Rafiq Sheikh of Murshidabad, West Bengal, on the charge of murder. An eyewitness had seen a fully-drenched Rafiq leaving the area in a hustle and detained him on suspicion. Rafiq and a group of migrant workers were staying on rent around a kilometre from the water body. He too is said to have come to the spot to take a bath, the police said.
On not hearing from Jose for about an hour, his family members and others launched a hunt and found his body in the water, with his lips bitten away by someone. His body was taken to the Alappuzha Medical College for post mortem examination and was later handed over to his relatives.
The police are questioning Rafiq, who is giving contradictory statements. Annoyed at the murder, residents of the area attacked the house where the migrant workers were staying, and burnt some of their clothes. The area is calm now, the police said.
