Nedumkandam (Idukki, Kerala): In a major development in the missing case of a mother-son duo, police on Tuesday took into custody Saji (43), the younger son of the woman.

The complaint was originally filed on Sunday by Sini, daughter of Marykutty, stating that Marykutty (70) and Reji (54) could not be traced after going missing from their residence.

Police suspect Saji’s role in the disappearance. The ongoing probe is also focused on identifying whether the recovered bodies belong to the missing duo and whether he is linked to their death.

On Monday, police visited the house for inspection. An officer briefly spoke to Saji before additional personnel arrived. He reportedly left the scene thereafter, prompting an intensified search operation.

Search operation and arrest

A coordinated search operation was carried out from Tuesday morning, involving multiple police teams, drones, and dog squads.

During the search, a dog squad led officers to a bag belonging to Saji found near a field close to the house. He was also reported to have been in a forest hideout during the operation.

According to locals, Saji later returned from the hideout during the ongoing search and approached a shop near the area, where he reportedly surrendered before those present.

He is claimed to have said that a mistake has happened and that he was surrendering.

The search was part of an ongoing effort to trace him following his disappearance from the location after the initial police visit.

Bodies recovered from land, decomposition reported

On Monday, body parts were recovered from land owned by Marykutty in Nedumkandam. Police suspect the deceased to be Marykutty (70) and her son Reji (54), both residents of the same house who had been reported missing.

Earlier that day, locals noticed what appeared to be a human leg emerging from soil in a nearby plot and informed the police. A forensic team later carried out excavation at the site.

By around 1.45 pm, body parts were recovered from the pit. The remains were in a highly decomposed state. Lime was reportedly used in the pit, believed to accelerate decomposition and suppress odour.

The remains are suspected to be of one male and one female, though formal identification is pending. Idukki SP Sabu Mathew said confirmation will follow only after postmortem examination and scientific analysis. The bodies have not yet been officially identified.