Man arrested for murder of woman in Kerala’s Thirunelly; victim’s daugher traced

Kozhikode: Police on Monday arrested the person accused of murdering a woman in Appappara near Thirunelly in Wayanad on Sunday night.Dileesh, 37, a native of Pilakkavu Thara, was arrested from near an abandoned house inside a plantation close to the house where the woman was murdered.He was on the terrace of a shuttered room adjacent to a dilapidated house and taken into custody with the help of forest department officials.He was arrested in connection with the murder of Praveena, 34, a native of Edayoor Kunnu, at her house on Sunday night.Following Dileesh's arrest, police also found Praveena's missing nine-year-old daughter. It is believed that Dileesh had taken shelter with the child by removing roof tiles and hiding inside the locked house. Thirunelly Police later shifted the child to a secure location.Praveena, who had been living separately from her husband, was allegedly in a relationship with Dileesh. It is suspected that a dispute between them led to the murder, which took place around 7.30pm on Sunday.Praveena's older daughter, aged 14, sustained injuries to her neck and ear and was admitted to Wayanad govt medical college. Police has recorded her statement.Following the murder, police launched a search for Dileesh and the missing child on Sunday night. On Monday morning, an extensive search was conducted with the help of locals, forest personnel, and the fire force. The search also involved a police dog squad and drone surveillance. Dileesh and the child were found around 10am on Monday.