Sullia : A 53-year-old man, who had been reported as missing from his house near Kukke Subrahmanya on July 14, was dead in the forests of Peruvaje near Sullia on Wednesday.

The Sullia police arrested the wife of the deceased and four others on the charge of murder.

The Sullia police said Lalita (38) filed a complaint on July 14 with the Subrahmanya police that her husband, Jayananada (53), had gone missing.

During the investigation, the police suspected a foul play and kept an eye on Lalita.

Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D. said they questioned Lalita’s friend Dhanajaya (31), who reportedly confessed to murdering Jayananda.

Dhanajaya took the police to the forest area in Peruvaje where the body was found in a decomposed state. Mr. Sharanappa said Jayananada was strangulated and murdered. The Sullia police said they arrested Dhananjaya, Lalita, Chandrakant (26), Dinesh (29) and Chintana (25).