A juvenile arrested for aiding and abetting the murder of an elderly woman at Kozhinjampara in Palakkad

Police have arrested a 17-year-old boy for allegedly assisting the prime accused in the murder of a 66-year-old woman at Attayampathy near Kozhinjampara in Palakkad. According to the police, the minor participated in the crime from planning to its execution.

The boy was sent to a juvenile home. The main accused Udayakumar (19), a neighbor of the victim, was arrested on Saturday.

Police said the victim, Sarasal, who lived alone in Kozhinjampara, was murdered on June 10 during a robbery. The accused allegedly burnt her body and buried the remains behind Udayakumar’s house.

Sarasal has been missing since June 10. A month-long investigation led the police to suspect her neighbor Udayakumar, who had also been away from the locality for some time.

Sarasal’s children, Ravi and Baby, live in Tamil Nadu. The child’s son, Karthik, used to bring food to Sarasal every morning. The last time he served her food was on June 10. When he returned the next day, he found the main door open and the food delivered the day before untouched. He then alerted the family, after which a criminal complaint was filed with the police.

During interrogation, Udayakumar reportedly confessed to killing Sarasal around 11 June 10. Police said the accused robbed her of a gold nose ring and cash before burning the body in a metal drum in the bathroom. The partially cremated remains were later bagged and buried behind Udayakumar’s house.

On Saturday, the police exhumed the remains and sent them for an autopsy.

Published – 12 Jul 2026 20:41 IST