Body of Thirumalai Nayakan Mahal's sub-registrar found in Coonoor

UDHAGAMANDALAM: The mutilated body of sub-registrar of Thirumalai Nayakan Mahal in Madurai was found in a decomposed state in a stream located near Wellington in Coonoor in the Nilgiris on Tuesday evening. The sub-registrar, who had come to Coonoor on February 14, had gone missing since February 17.
Prabhakaran (45), who worked as a sub-registrar in Coonoor a year ago, was transferred to Gudalur in the Nilgiris six months ago.In January, he was transferred to Thirumalai Nayakan Mahal registrar office in Madurai, his native place. According to police, Prabhakaran had come to Coonoor on February 14 in connection with an earlier registration for which he was asked to submit an explanation.
"Prabhakaran had been staying in a lodge in Coonoor for three days, since from his arrival on February 14. He attended office to provide an explanation on February 15 and 16. He left the lodge on February 17 and has gone missing since then," said V V Sivakumar, Coonoor town police inspector.
On Tuesday evening, police received a call from the public about a decomposed body lying in a stream close to the gas crematorium in Wellington.The body was sent to Coonoor government hospital. The arms and legs had been cut off.
"Meanwhile, Prabhakaran's wife Minnalkodi and her uncle approached the police in the evening stating that Prabhakaran, who had come to Coonoor on an official visit, had gone missing," said the police inspector. Prabhakaran's family lives in Madurai.
Minnalkodi and her uncle were asked by the police to go to the Coonoor GH for identification of the body. "They confirmed that it was that of Prabhakaran's," Sivakumar said. As his body had been mutilated, they suspect it to be a murder. We are also probing the possibility of animal attack," said the official.
On Wednesday, a sniffer dog from Ooty was brought to Coonoor as part of the investigation operation. A case has been registered with the police based on the complaint made by Prabhakaran's wife. "Postmortem of the body was conducted on Wednesday at Coonoor GH and we are awaiting the report," said the police inspector.