Body of trader from Kerala exhumed in Tamil Nadu

The body of a Kerala-based trader was exhumed at a village near here Friday after he was allegedly kidnapped and killed by a rowdy, police said.

The crime, committed on August 15, was a fallout of an illicit relationship the man allegedly had with the rowdy's wife, the police team from the neighboring state said here.

The history-sheeter was arrested in Kerala and brought to the scene of the crime, the team said. The rowdy with the help of five of his associates, known to the deceased, had invited him to join a party, offered him drinks before abducting him and killing him, they said.

The body of the man, hailing from Kollam in Kerala, was buried, but it was not known where he was killed, the police said, adding that he was involved in selling pigeons and parrots.

The post-mortem has been conducted and the body is being taken to Kollam, police said. A search is on for the five associates.