Thiruvananthapuram: It was the frequent presence of the key accused Umesh at the isolated area dense with mangroves at Panathura as well as his sexual perversions that helped the cops zero in on the accused. Though some local people had felt severe stench from the area, Umesh managed to convince him that it was the smell of the carcass of a buffalo.
Umesh used to work as a cook and was a specialist in preparing biriyani in mass quantities for functions, while the other accused Udayan was working as a local guide for tourists. Both did not maintain much connection with their families. They indulged in drug use, peddling and criminal activities.
After the police received forensic reports suggesting that the Latvian tourist was murdered, they focused the probe around the people of Panathura area itself as they were certain that the chances of any outsiders reaching the locality where the body was found was very remote. Those who used to frequently come to the area, including those indulging in anti-social activities, were nabbed and their character was analysed in detail.
Subsequently, police came to know that Umesh was a sexual pervert. He maintained sexual relationships with several women and men of the locality and used to carry out the illicit affairs within the mangrove forests. Many were learnt to have been conceding to him owing to fear. Police officials claimed that though the accused were involved in several cases, Goonda Act could not be invoked against them as there were considerable gap between each case.
