The Rural police on Thursday arrested two persons in connection with the murder of a livestock trader in Balaramapuram on February 6. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Neyyatinkara, P. Gopakumar, identified the suspects as Zulfikar alias Abhilash and his friend Joseph.
Local people had found the body of the victim, Maniyan, outside his small establishment in the basement of a multi-storeyed shopping complex at Kodinada Junction. Doctors told the police that Maniyan had died of fractures on his head and ribs. They said a blunt instrument had been used to inflict the injuries.
The police found that the basement was frequented by a set of tipplers. A labourer told the police that he had seen Maniyan quarrelling with the suspects. On the basis of his statement, the police arrested the accused. Mr. Gopakumar said the suspects confessed to the crime. The police also retrieved a stone the accused had allegedly used for the crime. He said “drunken rage” had resulted in the crime. The accused were produced before the court on Friday and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days.
