The Palarivattom police have arrested five youngsters on the charge of attempt to murder in connection with an incident in which a youngster was allegedly stabbed following a clash between two groups on Powerhouse Road near North Janatha on Sunday night.
The arrested are Minhaj, 19, Aswin, 18, and Jamsheer, 19, all residents of Karukappally; Ashik, 20, of Pathadipalam, and Vivek, 20, of Elamakkara. A hunt is on for seven more accused. The arrested were produced in court and remanded.
A 12-member gang and another group of 10 members, including the victim, had clashed. The attackers reportedly fled the scene on the arrival of the police who, however, managed to chase down two of them. Their two-wheelers were also seized, while three others were taken into custody on Tuesday.
“There had been tension and a clash of egos between the two groups in the past, and a silly dispute after one group member was stopped by the other group recently led to the violent incident. Some of the accused are known troublemakers, and stringent action was taken to ensure that they didn’t turn hardened criminals,” said S. Sanal, Station House Officer, Palarivattom.
The group was allegedly involved in an attack on a hostel in the city a few months ago. Two were taken into custody and remanded in that case. But the First Investigation Report had to be quashed after the accused managed to cajole the complainant into withdrawing the petition.
The police have registered a case invoking IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder) 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), and 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object).
