Youth arrested on charge of 18-year-old girl’s murder in Keralam’s Idukki district

The police in Idukki district have charged a 19-year-old man, Nishanth, with the murder of an 18-year-old girl whose charred remains were discovered near the Pambla dam. According to police, the girl's body was found on October 14, 2026. Nishanth, a resident of Vattappara, was taken into custody in the same district.

The victim, who resided in Bodinayakanur, Tamil Nadu, was reportedly acquainted with Nishanth through social media. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse when Nishanth blocked the girl's number and cut off all communication. On October 11, the girl called Nishanth from another phone, urging them to meet. Nishanth then allegedly lured her to Poopara, promising to discuss their marriage plans.

When they arrived at the cardamom plantation, an argument ensued, leading to Nishanth pushing the girl off an embankment. She fell onto a rock, and Nishanth allegedly struck her with a stone before strangling her with a mobile phone charging cable. The following night, Nishanth transported the body to Pambla, doused it in petrol, and set it ablaze. The charred remains were subsequently discovered near the KSEB quarters at the Pambla dam.

The Idukki District Police Chief, A. Naseem, stated that the victim's family had initially lodged a missing-person complaint with the Bodinayakanur police in Tamil Nadu, following her disappearance. Based on the condition and position of the body, the Kerala Police suspected foul play and shared the information with their Tamil Nadu counterparts.

Subsequently, the Tamil Nadu police and the Idukki Police coordinated efforts to solve the case. Nishanth was arrested within 12 hours of confirming the girl's death as a homicide.