Close surveillance of a hideout of anti-social elements by the name ‘America’ at Aluva NAD proved crucial for Crime Branch sleuths in netting the long-absconding accused in the Panampilly Nagar firing case.
It has now emerged that Bilal and Vipin Varghese, the first and second accused respectively, had spent days after the incident at this hideout, which, according to Crime Branch sources, offered a unique vantage view.
“The place enables its occupants to have a clear sight of anyone approaching while giving themselves a perfect cover. We learnt that the accused had been there before fleeing to Kasaragod. On their return after feeling reassured that they would not be caught, the accused used to frequent the hideout and even spent nights there, unlike in the past when they stayed back at the place only during day time,” sources said.
The Crime Branch has its hands full since the court has granted it custody of the accused for just five days during the course of which they will have to be taken to Mangaluru where the conspiracy leading to the firing was hatched, besides interrogating them further. The accused were taken to the crime scene for evidence gathering on Friday afternoon.
More work remains
Though the agency had arraigned gangster Ravi Pujari as the third accused in the case, establishing his links to the case will require some extensive work.
According to the Crime Branch, the contract for firing was given to the accused by a Mangaluru-based aide of Ravi Pujari for ₹50 lakh though only ₹45,000 was paid.
Phone calls
“Nabbing the party who arranged for the weapon and vehicle for the accused could prove crucial in establishing that link. Besides, it remains to be scientifically proved that the calls, which the beauty parlour owner and a channel reporter had received from a person claiming to be Pujari was the man himself,” sources said.
Only after establishing his role in the incident can the agency make a credible claim for the custody of Pujari as and when he is brought to the country from Senegal where he was arrested earlier this year.
A Crime Branch team led by Jossy Cherian, DySP; P.S. Shiju, Inspector; K.X. Sylvster, Sub Inspector; assistant sub inspectors Vinayakan, Suresh, Madhusudhanan, and Josy; senior civil police officers Binu, Anilkumar, Harikumar, Dinil, and Rexin Poduthas made the arrests.
