The unidentified person, whose body was found half burnt in a secluded place under Perungudi police station limits in Madurai district on Tuesday, has been identified as Malaiyarasan, Grade I policeman of Sivaganga district.

A native of Alagapuri in Virudhunagar district, the 2013-batch constable has been on medical leave since January 29, a police source said. The constable, attached to Kalayarkoil police station, had met with a road accident in Manamadurai, while riding a bike with his wife and children, earlier in March.

His wife succumbed to head injuries at a private hospital on the Madurai-Thoothukudi Inner Ring Road closer to the spot where the body was found.

While the Perungudi police have already registered a case of suspicious death, investigation is underway on whether it was a murder or a case of suicide.

(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)