Kollam (PTI): A Kollam native who went missing in the recent boat tragedy off the coast of Mozambique has been confirmed dead, MP N K Premachandran said here on Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Sreerag Radhakrishnan (35) of Naduvilakara, Thevalakkara.

He and another person, Indrajith (22) of Piravom in Ernakulam district, were reported missing after a boat carrying them to the tanker MT Sea Quest for maintenance work capsized on October 16.

There were 21 people on board the boat, including 14 Indians when it capcized near Beira port.

"Authorities in Mozambique have confirmed the death of Sreerag. The body was recovered following a search operation," Premachandran told PTI.

Kollam MP said the body was in a badly decomposed state when recovered. "The authorities have assured that all necessary steps will be taken to send the body to India," he added.

Meanwhile, the search is still on for Indrajith, according to his relatives. Sreerag’s family said he had left for Mozambique only on October 13.

They said that he had been working for a shipping company for seven years and had returned to India six months ago after the birth of his son.

The family said they are awaiting communication from the Indian High Commission regarding the repatriation of the mortal remains.

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Indore (PTI): An 18-year-old graphic designer, who claimed to have lost his job due to AI, was arrested with his NEET-aspirant woman friend on Thursday for allegedly stealing jewelry worth Rs 16 lakh.

The teen duo told police that they were inspired by the 2005 film Bunti Aur Babli, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shrikrishna Lalchandani.

They allegedly stole gold, silver, and diamond jewelry worth Rs 16.17 lakh from a shop in Rau police station area in the city on the night of December 22, the official told reporters.

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The entire booty was recovered from their possession after the arrest in Bhopal where they had fled.

Without disclosing the identities of the accused, DCP Lalchandani said, "Both are 18 years old. The young man is a graphic designer, while the woman is preparing for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The two have known each other since childhood.

"During interrogation, the young man told us that he used to work part-time as a graphic designer at an IT company, but lost his job due to the company's adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and he was finding it difficult to make ends meet," the official added.

The accused, who come from economically weak background, claimed to have planned the theft after watching "Bunty Aur Babli," he said.

"The accused say they tried to sell the stolen jewelry, but the buyers, thinking they were children, wouldn't pay the right price. So they had decided to sell it after Christmas holidays," the DCP said.