The Kerala Police are still groping in the dark in their investigation into the death of latvian woman liga Skromane (33), whose decapitated and decomposed body was found in a deserted marshy place near Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram on April 20 even as the State Government began efforts to ensure that the incident does not mar God’s Own Country’s tourism prospects.
A preliminary forensic report has hinted at the possibility of murder with the finding that she could have died of asphyxiation but this is yet to be confirmed. Though the police had initially claimed that liga might have died of poisoning, they are not firm about that theory anymore even as the DNA analysis confirmed that the body recovered was of liga.
The police investigation is presently progressing also on the basis of the assumption that liga could have been murdered and the investigators are focusing their attention for the time being on gangs specializing in drugs and gambling on the basis of the statements given by local people.
“We are examining all angles (including possibility of murder),” said a probe team member.
According to local people, the area where the body was found has literally been a playground of gangs for quite some time and the police have learned that some members of a particular gang have been missing from the place for the past one month.
The police’s assumption is that liga’s death – be it a case of murder or suicide – could have occurred on March 15 or 16.
The contradictions in the statements received from local people are also baffling the police. While two women have told them that liga was alone when they saw her going to the mangrove forest where the body was found, they have also received indications that liga had gone to the place along with an unidentified youth.
That the body was in extremely decomposed state when it was found is another factor that is causing problems for the investigators.
According to forensic experts, the decomposed state of the body would make finding out whether the woman had been sexually assaulted or had suffered any injuries difficult.
However, the entire hope of the police is presently anchored on the postmortem report which they are yet to receive. Sources in the police said the finalization of the postmortem report was being delayed because of the decomposed state of the body. “However, we believe that the report will come soon and will contain some clear leads,” said a top police official.
liga, who was suffering from severe depression, had come to Kerala on February 2 for Ayurveda treatment along with her sister Ilze Skromane. She had started taking the treatment at an Ayurveda centre at Pothencode near Thiruvananthapuram on February 14. Though the treatment was for six weeks, she had gone missing on March 14.
At the same time, Ilze, who is in Kerala, said she was satisfied with the investigation being held by a 25-member special investigation team.
On Thursday, Ilze said Director General of Police loknath Behera had told her that the postmortem report would be available in a day or two. “Actually, they are doing the very best in their powers,” she said.