Thrissur (Kerala) | The police on Monday recovered a foetus preserved in a refrigerator at an apartment in Kodungallur here and questioned a couple in connection with the incident.

According to police, the search was carried out, following a tip-off, at a flat in Chathedathuparambu near Kodungallur in the evening.

As per the FIR, a 23-year-old man from Anappuzha in Thrissur district and a 28-year-old woman from Kottuvally in Ernakulam district were staying in a flat in Rose Villa, Chathedathuparambu.

During the search, police found a green box marked “AMY” inside the refrigerator, in which a foetus, estimated to be around three to four months old, was kept, the FIR said.

On questioning, the couple told police that they had been married for about a year and were working in an event management firm.

The woman claimed that on March 20, at around 11 pm, she experienced severe abdominal pain and the foetus was expelled while she was in the bathroom.

As she had studied nursing, she allegedly cut the umbilical cord herself after her husband brought a pair of scissors from a neighbouring apartment, officials said.

Unable to dispose of the foetus, they kept it in the refrigerator, police said.

Police have registered a case of unnatural death and said the foetus will be examined by a forensic surgeon before being given proper last rites.

Officials said a detailed probe is underway to verify the statements given by the couple.