Burnt woman’s body identified, ex-lover, friend surrender

It was the news report about the body that caught the attention of Aruldoss from Annai Sathya Nagar, whose daughter Pokkisha Mary had gone missing on May 26. A Kerala police team, searching for a missing college student Jasna Maria James, visited Chengalpattu GH to verify if it was her body. However, her parents confirmed that it was not her, as the deceased woman had her nose pierced.

The mention about nose stud caught Aruldoss’ attention, and he decided to visit the mortuary where he identified the body, police said. During interrogation, Balamurugan (30) of Nerkundaram reportedly said he was in a relationship with Mary for about eight years. But when she started avoiding him, he wanted to take revenge. P Sukumaran (38) of MGR Nagar was also arrested for aiding him in the murder.

Pokkisha Mary, who was unmarried, was working at a restaurant till last year. On the day she went missing, Mary left home but did not return. During the frantic search for her, Aruldoss had found her two-wheeler abandoned near Central Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) and lodged a complaint with the Anna Nagar police.

Meanwhile, two police personnel from Chengalpattu Taluk station spotted the body on the side of Palar river at Pazhaveli village, off NH 45, on May 28. As the Chengalpattu Taluk police have registered a murder case, Anna Nagar police handed over the duo to them for further interrogation.