Kollam-native Praveen was arrested for murdering a woman with whom he had shared a hotel room at Thampanoor here on Saturday.

The deceased, Gayathri, belonging to Kattakkada in Thiruvananthapuram district, had checked in at the Thampanoor hotel with Praveen on Saturday afternoon.

In the evening, Praveen sneaked out of the hotel after locking the room. Later, at night, the hotel received a call saying a woman was locked inside the room.

The hotel staff subsequently informed the police, who forcibly opened the room and found Gayathri’s body, which had froth at the mouth.

A search was soon launched for Praveen, who reportedly surrendered at Paravur in Kollam district around noon on Sunday. Police said that Praveen had admitted to strangulating Gayathri in the hotel room during an argument.

Social media status and missing case
Gayathri had left her house three days ago. Meantime, she posted a picture as status showing Praveen and her tying the knot at a church.

Seeing the status update, Gayathri's mother and relatives filed a police complaint saying she was missing. It was hours later that she was found dead inside the hotel room.

Praveen is reportedly married and has two children. His wife had filed a police complaint after coming to know of his relationship with Gayathri.

Praveen, who was a driver at a jewellery shop in the capital had met Gayathri when she worked there eight months ago, said the police.