The death of 19-year-old aviation student Chithrapriya, initially shrouded in mystery after she went missing from her home in Mundangamattam near Malayattoor, has been confirmed as a case of murder.
Her boyfriend Alan has confessed to killing her during a drunken confrontation, according to police.
Kalady Police detained Alan after he admitted that he had struck the young woman on the head with a stone during the early hours of Sunday. Officers said the incident stemmed from a heated argument fuelled by suspicion and aggravated by alcohol.
Investigators revealed that the breakthrough came when CCTV footage captured the duo travelling together on a motorcycle around 1:53 a.m., followed closely by another two-wheeler. Under sustained questioning, Alan eventually disclosed the details of the fatal altercation.
Chithrapriya, who was pursuing her first year of an aviation degree in Bengaluru, had returned home for vacation. She was last seen on Saturday night after telling her family she was stepping out briefly to buy something. When she didn’t return, her family alerted the police in the early hours of Sunday.
Her body was discovered four days later, on Tuesday afternoon around 2:30 p.m., in a secluded area near Kurappilly slope—barely a kilometre from her house. Local residents and colleagues of her mother, who works in a catering unit, detected a foul smell coming from an abandoned rubber plantation near Sebiur Road, leading to the discovery.
Police found a blood-stained stone close to the body, reinforcing suspicion of homicide. A significant injury was noted on the back of her skull, consistent with a blow from a blunt object. Forensic teams, including a dog squad and fingerprint experts, examined the scene.
Initially, Alan had claimed he simply dropped the girl off and was let go after preliminary questioning. However, after the body’s recovery and further interrogation, he reportedly broke down and confessed.
Police are now piecing together the full sequence of events and investigating whether anyone else played a role. The post-mortem has been completed, and authorities are awaiting the detailed report to officially establish the cause of death.
