Family raises suspicion over Devananda’s mysterious death

The family of the 6-year-old Devananda found dead in Kollam have their suspicions surrounding the child’s death. Devananda's grandfather Mohanan Pillai has suggested that she might have been abducted from her house.

Kollam (Kerala): As mystery masks the death of a six-year-old girl, Devananda, in Kollam, her relatives have sought a comprehensive probe into the incident.

Devananda's grandfather Mohanan Pillai has also raised suspicions and pointed out at the possibility of her being kidnapped.

Pillai said that it was unlikely that the little girl would go to the riverside on her own.

It was earlier suspected that the child might have headed to a temple with her grandmother but on Saturday her grandfather gave clarification and said, "The mention of temple came up because the child's father kept calling from Gulf asking about her whereabouts. The mother had no answers so she told him that the child had gone to the temple with her grandmother. I later informed him that we are searching for the child and there is no information."

The Kerala police had on Thursday launched a massive search operation for the minor who was reported missing since 11 am on Thursday and found her body along the banks of a nearby river.

She went missing when her mother went behind the house for some household chores for about five minutes.

The body was taken to a nearby hospital for post-mortem. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained, however, the preliminary report stated that there are no bruises or injuries on the body.