Thanjavur: A 25-year-old, unmarried woman was arrested near Thanjavur today on the charge of murdering by drowning her four-year-old son, who born out of an illicit affair.

The decomposed body of the boy was found amidst thick hemp bushes on the banks of the River Vettar in Thirukarukavur village a couple of days ago. On being informed by the locals, revenue and police officials rushed there, retrieved the body and sent it to government hospital in Papanasam. Based on a complaint lodged by the village administrative officer Balraj, Papanasam police registered a case and conducted an enquiry in the surrounding villages.

Upon investigation, the boy was identified as Siva, son of Rekha of Melattur Thennancholai village, near Papanasam. Subsequently, the police took Rekha into custody and questioned her.

Interrogation by the police revealed that the boy was born to her out of wedlock. As the boy was mentally ill and bedridden, Rekha found it difficult to look after him, and deciding to get rid of him she took the hapless boy to the Vettar, threw him into the river and returned home.

The police arrested her based on her confession. Later, she was produced in the judicial magistrate court in Papanasam and remanded to judicial custody.