Lithuanian tourist Liga Skromene, whose decomposed body was found from a deserted mangrove forest, died following 'blunt injuries' in the neck, indicating murder, police said.
The cause of death is blunt injuries in the neck, a senior police official told PTI.
Asked if it was a case of murder, he said "it could be."
The forensic report was yet to be received, he said.
Liga's body, with head severed, was found on April 21 from Thiruvallam near Kovalam.
Yesterday City Police commisisoner P Prakash had said that one reason for her death could be 'manual strangulation'.
Thirty three-year-old Liga, who had come to Kerala for ayurvedic treatment for depression, had gone missing from Kovalam on March 14.
Ilze, the victim's sister, told a Malayalam television channel that Liga may have been taken to the deserted spot from where her body was recovered by somebody using drugs.
'Somebody using drugs, took her', she said.
Ilze also rubbished reports that Aswati Jwala, a social acivist who was helping her had taken money from her or raised money in Liga's name.
"That is totally false', Ilze said.
Meanwhile, IGP Manoj Abraham visited the mangrove forest from where Liga's body was recovered and held discussions with police officials.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)