Missing Kerala Schoolteacher Traced in Palakkad With Man

Police in Kozhikode have traced a government schoolteacher who went missing from Thottilpalam on October 5 to a rented house in Pudussery in Palakkad district.

Investigation

Officers took the teacher and a Vadakara native named Abdul Samad into custody on October 17. The two were reportedly living together while posing as husband and wife. The search began after the woman's family filed a police complaint and later approached the Kerala High Court when she remained untraced for over a week. Investigators tracked the pair using digital clues and found that Samad used seven different SIM cards. Police state the two communicated on WhatsApp by using Wi-Fi connections from other people's phones.

Background

Around a decade ago, the teacher faced a serious liver condition during pregnancy. Her husband donated part of his liver for a transplant, which was funded through a public campaign. She later cleared a Public Service Commission exam and joined government service. Police sources note that Samad has prior criminal records, including assault cases, and suspect he may have deceived the woman for money. Authorities are conducting a detailed probe to uncover all facts in the case.

Context

Missing person investigations in India often rely heavily on digital surveillance, including mobile phone tracking and cyber footprints, to locate individuals who move across districts. Police forces frequently use call detail records and internet usage patterns to trace suspects and missing persons when traditional leads run dry.