One held in connection with murder of pregnant woman

One person was today arrested in connection with the brutal murder of a pregnant woman in Athirampuzha area here, police said.
Police identified the murdered woman as 21-year-old Aswathy from Adichira.
Main murder suspect Basheer alias Khader Yousuf was arrested today, two days after the body of the woman was found stashed in a sack at a rubber plantation in Athirampuzha area, police said.
According to the police, 35-year-old Basheer from Erattupetta in the district, used to stay in a house opposite Aswathy's residence in Adichira.
Basheer, whose wife works abroad, had allegedly hidden the fact from Aswathy that he was married.

She reportedly left home eight months ago and stayed with Basheer in many places. He sexually exploited her on pretext of marriage, police said.
When she became pregnant, he allegedly forced Aswathi to undergo an abortion but she refused following which he murdered her, police said.
An associate of Basheer has been taken into custody for questioning, they added.