Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala police on Friday arrested an acupuncturist who had allegedly handled the delivery of a 36-year-old woman at home, in which both the mother and the newborn died.

Police have arrested Venjaramoodu resident Shihabuddin who was in custody following the death of the woman and her newborn child at her rented home near Karakkamandapam in the state capital.

Police earlier arrested the victim's husband, Nayaz, in connection with the incident.

Police said that Nayaz's ex-wife, who was assisting the family in the at-home delivery, is currently absconding. She is also an accused in the case.

According to the police, it was the fourth delivery of the woman, Shameera Beevi, and she had never consulted a doctor in the nine months of her pregnancy.

The couple allegedly sought the help of an acupuncturist instead of a medical doctor, and the practitioner used to visit their rented house, police had said.

The woman developed some complications on Tuesday and she was finally taken to a private hospital in the evening but both the mother and the baby were declared brought dead by doctors.

As news about the death of the woman and the newborn emerged, the local councillor, ASHA workers and neighbours came out against Nayaz, accusing him of not allowing his wife to consult a doctor and seeking proper medical treatment.