Youth held on charge of murder attempt

The Kochi city police on Tuesday arrested a 22-year-old man on the charge of attempting to murder a film producer in a late night drunken brawl at a bar in Kathrikadavu five months ago.

The accused was identified as Freddy Babu, 22, a resident of Kammattipadam in Elamkulam village. Acting on a tip-off, a police team arrested him from Thammanam after a brief chase.

Investigations revealed that the youth was also wanted in a drug peddling case and an assault case at Thripunithura and Palarivattom police stations respectively.

According to the police, the incident happened on March 29 when a ten-member gang indulged in verbal and physical abuse of the bar staff in an inebriated condition. The employees threatened to call the police, which further irritated the accused.

Film producer Maha Subair, who had been staying at the hotel, was present at the spot when the brawl took place. When he began talking to someone over phone, the gang attacked him with an iron bar thinking that he was alerting the police.

A security officer of the bar hotel too had sustained injuries in the assault.

The police had earlier arrested four persons — Antony, 24, of Varappuzha; Mohammed Isham, 24, a resident of SRM Road, Ernakulam; Carlton Paramel, 28, of Mamangalam and Cedric Mendez, 22, of Ayyappankavu — in connection with the case.