Kerala rape case: Pervert held for Dalit law student's murder

Kochi: The Kerala police has finally zeroed in on the culprit in the Perumbavur law student rape and murder case. A top police source confirmed to this newspaper that a ‘pervert’ is in custody and the police is waiting to corroborate the scientific evidence to make a formal arrest. The source added that a man is under custody, and is an active mobile phone user. There were reports that the murderer was not using a phone that delayed the probe.

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Earlier in the day, the state police chief T.P. Senkumar visited the victim’s house and told media that the probe is at a crucial phase. “We’re taking all evidences to a logical end. There is no lapse in investigation,” he said. The police was after a key suspect whom the cyber team found to be in the vicinity of the victim’s house on the fateful day on April 28.

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Cops withdraw plea for footwear

The cops on Friday withdrew an application filed before the Kuruppampady Judicial First Class Magistrate to conduct scientific examination on a pair of footwear and other material objects found at the victim's makeshift house on the banks of a local canal in Rayamangalam panchayath. The police team also used the expertise of a retired Cyber Crime Investigation Cell CI Francis Periera on Friday.

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Earlier in the day Additional Director General of Police K. Padmakumar, supervising the probe said, "It appears to be a pre-meditated murder. We’ve got crucial evidence and are hopeful of cracking the case. 10 special teams are on the field even as experts, including cyber and forensic, have been called in to assist the probe."

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