Mattakuzhy villagers in disbelief

Four-year-old Kalyani's body was recovered from the Chakakudy river early on Tuesday, hours after she was reported missing on Monday night

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Kochi

The disappearance of Kalyani took a dark turn after the police arrested her mother Sandhya for allegedly killing the four-year-old by throwing her into the Chalakudy river at Moozhikulam near Puthencruz in Ernakulam.

The arrest followed the recovery of Kalyani's body from the river in the early hours of Tuesday, hours after she was reported missing on Monday night. Police said the mother has not provided a clear reason for her actions.

Kalyani was the youngest daughter of Subash and Sandhya, who hail from Mattakuzhy near Puthencruz. Her 11-year-old brother is a Class 6 student in a nearby school.

As per police, Sandhya left home around 3 pm on Monday on the pretext of buying a regulator for their pressure cooker.

On the way, she picked up Kalyani from the anganwadi where she studied. The mother and daughter boarded a bus plying from Thiruvankulam to Aluva to go to their house in Kurumassery. However, upon reaching Kurumassery, Sandhya went to Moozhikulam, which is located on the banks of the Chalakudy river.

Police said Sandhya travelled to Moozhikulam in a transport bus and returned in an autorickshaw. Its driver told police that Sandhya was alone when she boarded his vehicle.