The Thiruvananthapuram police on Wednesday announced the arrest of eight persons in connection with the murder of Karali Anoop alias ‘Motta’ Anoop, 35, who was bludgeoned to death near Enchakkal on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Ajeetha Begum, addressing a press conference here, said eight out of the 10 accused were arrested. The arrested were identified as Vipin alias Kochukuttan, 30, of Thazhassery, Aneesh Alexander alias Appichen, 24, of Chakka, Nithin, 20, Sumesh, 23, Vishnu, 24, of Vayyamoola, Radhakrishnan, 27, of Manavanagar, Joji, 24, of Kamaleswaram, and a 17-year-old boy from Vallakadavu. Two of the accused – Ambu and Akhil Antony – are still absconding.
Near Neyyattinkara Except for the 17-year-old boy, who was allegedly driving the autorickshaw that carried five of the accused to the crime scene, the others are all members of trade unions operating from near a private hospital at Eenchakkal. Most of the accused were nabbed from near Neyyattinkara. All the eight would be produced before court on Thursday.
Ms. Begum, who led the investigation, said Anoop had picked up an argument with Ambu around 8 p.m. on Sunday and thrashed him after he refused to give him money to buy liquor. Anoop had gone to his friend’s workshop at Karali, where Ambu and friends found him 45 minutes later.
The police said the group had traced Anoop to thrash him and not to kill him. However, Anoop, who was drunk, and unable to fend off the attack, reportedly told them that he would ‘finish’ them off one by one. This is said to have frightened them. Ambu and Vipin allegedly smashed Anoop on the head with a stone after the threat.
A team led by Jawahar Janardh, Assistant Commissioner, Shangumugham, P. Bijoy, AC (Control Room), A. Abhilash, Circle Inspector, Pettah and V. Ashok Kumar, Sub Inspector, Vanchiyoor, made the arrests.