Karnataka's Home Minister G Parmeshwar has confirmed that authorities have identified the suspect behind the killing of 29-year-old Mahalakshmi whose body was chopped into 30 pieces and recovered from a fridge in a flat last week.

The minister said it is believed that the suspect is currently believed to be in West Bengal.

“There is information about a person from West Bengal being a suspect. Efforts are on to arrest him,” the minister was quoted as saying by India Today.

The victim used to live in a one-bedroom apartment in Bengaluru's Vyalikaval area.

Despite being married, she was reportedly not staying with her husband.

G Parmeshwar said all necessary steps are being taken to ensure women's safety in the state.

“The Nirbhaya program is ongoing. We have installed CCTVs and are looking into other such measures to ensure safety,” he was quoted as saying by the news channel.

The incident came to light at a time when West Bengal is witnessing protests over the murder and rape of a female medico at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.