Two held in connection with Latvian tourist's rape, murder

Thiruvananthapuram, May 3 (PTI) Two youth were arrested today in connection with the rape and murder of a Latvian tourist, whose highly decomposed body was found from a mangrove forest near Kovalam on April 21, police said.

The two accused, Umesh and Udayan, are drug peddlers, they said.

The entire investigation was conducted on circumstantial evidence using scientific methods, DGP Loknath Behara told reporters here.

"The case was homicide. It was unfortunately brutal. It should not have happened to any woman," he said.

Efforts are also on to ascertain if anymore people are directly or indirectly involved in the case, he said.

Investigating officer, Manoj Abhraham said the accused have been charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act.

The cremation of the woman will be held here later this evening and her ashes will be flown to her native place by her sister, police said.

A Special Investigation Team was formed by the police and a massive search launched to trace the woman.

They had also announced a reward of Rs two lakh for anyone providing information about the missing woman.

The 33-year-old woman, who had come to Kerala for ayurvedic treatment for depression, had gone missing from Kovalam on March 14.