*Thiruvananthapuram: *Two suspects have been detained by the Kerala policefor the alleged rape and murder of a Latvian tourist, whose decomposed bodywas found, with the head severed, 30 days after she went missing in March.
The suspects, according to the police, are drug peddlers and one of them,is a “sexual pervert who had abused women and men in the past,” in the sameisolated marshy area, where the tourist’s body was found, NDTV hasreported.
Senior police officials have confirmed to NDTV that “the postmortem reportdidn’t reveal much because the body was badly decomposedlink>.”However, the police sources say they have been able to confirm that theaccused had the motive of rape and murder.
The tourist’s funeral will be held today in Thiruvananthapuram.
“I am aware of the police investigations and they have been in touch withme. For now I am focusing on the funeral. She loved Kerala and had receiveda lot of love and support. We don’t want to leave India with only badmemories. The funeral will be a private affair. On Sunday there will be amemorial, which will be open to public. It will be a tribute to her life,”sister Ilze Skromane told NDTV. Ms Skromane’s sister and husband, AndrewJordan, along with close friends who have supported them through the toughtimes, will be present at the funeral.
The tourist had arrived in Kerala for ayurvedic treatment for posttraumatic depression. On February 21, she left the treatment centre,without informing her sister and couldn’t be traced after that. Her sisterhad earlier alleged delayed police action led to loss of critical time intracing her sister. But now she says she is satisfied with the policeinvestigation.