The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Karakulam murder, in which Purandaran Biju, alias Bhuvanachandran, a history-sheeter, was hacked to death last Friday, is yet to make any breakthrough or gather any vital clues in the case.
The incident
R. Vijayan, Circle Inspector, Nedumangad, who was leading the team, comprising Aruvikkara sub-inspector (SI) Vinukumar and Nedumangad SI Ajayakumar, said the team was yet to piece together events that preceded the police finding Biju lying in the rubber plantation near his home.
His head was nearly severed off. Two of his accomplices were found lying injured near him around 1 a.m. on Friday. A lot hinged on the statements of the accomplices, Chandran and Jambu Suresh, he said. Chandran was in a critical condition and Suresh was incoherent with his statements.
There were two others with Biju while they were reportedly drinking in the verandah of his home, which was nearing completion. Of these, one person, identified as Anikuttan, was absconding, while Arun, who had escaped from the attack uninjured, had stated that he could not identify the attackers. Biju, Mr. Vijayan said, had not resumed his criminal activities in the area after being released from detention under KAAPA on January 8.
He was busy with the construction of his house. The possibility of previous enmity or gang rivalry was being probed, with focus on activities of the sand mafia in the region.
The area, which was relatively calm of late, had witnessed a resurgence of criminal activities over the past months, with the sand mafia getting quite active in illegal land-filling exercises in the region, Mr. Vijayan said.
The government had allowed filling up of paddy fields up to five cents with permission from the local body concerned. Violations were rampant in the area, the officer said.
