Kerala human sacrifice case: Court sends accused to another 9-days police custody

Kochi: All three accused in the alleged Kerala human sacrifice case have been sent to nine days of police custody, officials said on Thursday. The Perumbavoor Magistrate Court in the Ernakulam district sent Muhammed Shafi, Bhagaval Singh, and Laila to police custody.

Earlier, all three accused had approached the Kerala High Court challenging the order of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court of Ernakulam granting 12 days of police custody. They sought to set aside the order granting police custody.

They also sought permission to meet their lawyer during the time of interrogation while also seeking direction not to allow the release of the details of their confession statement through the media.

Meanwhile, Kerala High Court dismissed the plea but granted them to meet their lawyer on every alternative day for 15 minutes.

The officials said that police sought 10 days but were allowed for only nine days.

While dismissing the petition, the court observed that "the gruesome murder of two women purportedly for human sacrifice, has shocked the people of Kerala."

Court also observed that the lower court has passed the order granting custody with great care and caution and read the 22 points which were mentioned by the lower court in the order.

The remains of two women--identified as Padma and Roslin-- were exhumed from pits near the residence of Singh and Laila in the Pathanamthitta district.

Earlier on October 19, Kerala Police launched an extensive search operation to recover the anklet of Padma, one of the two deceased women in the human sacrifice case, according to the police.

The police conducted the search at the place shown by the prime accused at the Alappuzha-Changanssery canal in the Alappuzha district.

The anklets were made of silver which was allegedly thrown away by Shafi in the canal at Ramankari in the Alappuzha district. The police conducted a search following the statement given by Shafi.