Malappuram woman found dead in sack: Husband under scanner as past row comes to light

Malappuram: Police have taken a 40-year-old man into custody after the body of his 37-year-old wife was found stuffed inside a sack in the Tirur River in Kerala’s Malappuram district, officials said.

The body was recovered on Friday after fishermen spotted a sack in the river near Padinjarekkara while pulling up their boat’s anchor. They alerted authorities, following which Tirur police reached the location and recovered the body. 

A preliminary investigation identified the deceased as Fousiya, 37, of Purathur, Padinjarekkara. She had reportedly been missing along with her husband, Husain, 40, since Thursday.

According to police, Husain had woken Fousiya early Thursday and taken her along for fish-collecting work.

Fousiya’s relatives later approached police, following which Tirur police registered a missing person case on Friday morning.

After the body was identified, investigators began searching for Husain as the initial probe indicated that Fousiya may have been murdered.

Police intercepted Husain while he was travelling on a public transport bus at Pookayil near Tirur on Saturday and took him into custody.

Investigators are questioning him to establish the circumstances surrounding Fousiya’s death and determine the motive behind the alleged murder.

Police said the couple’s marital relationship was reportedly strained and that they frequently quarrelled.

Fousiya’s body will be handed over to her relatives after the postmortem examination, police said.