DNA test confirms decomposed body was of Lithuanian tourist

The result of the DNA test on the samples taken from the body recovered from nearby Kovalam recently has confirmed it was that of Lithuanian tourist, Liga Skromene.

The DNA test was conducted at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Bio-Technology (RGCB) here and the report was submitted in a sealed cover to the Sub-Judicial Magistrate court here, the institute sources said.

Blood sample of the victim's sister, Ilze and a bone sample from the recovered body was tested at the RGCB. """" "It was a 100 per cent match," sources said.

The bone sample was taken from the body as the tissues had decomposed.

The forensic report was also expected soon, they added.

Meanwhile, the State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran handed over the amount of Rs Five lakh solatium announced by the Kerala government to the family of Liga Skromene.

"" After accepting a cheque for the amount, IIze, sister of Liga, expressed satisfaction over the steps taken by the government in connection with the death of her sister.

The highly decomposed body, with head severed, was recovered from Thiruvallam near Kovalam from a bushy isolated area near a mangrove forest on the banks of Karmana river on April 21.

Liga's husband Andrews and sister Ilze and had recognised the body by the clothes and hair and had demanded a high level probe into the circumstances leading to her death.

The Kerala police had set up a special investigation team to probe into the woman's disappearance and also announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh to anyone providing information about the missing woman.

The state government had promised all help to the family to airlift liga's body to their native place for the final rites.

Thirty three-year-old Liga who had come for Ayurvedic treatment for depression, went missing from Kovalam on March 14.