The Nedumangad police on Sunday reportedly took into custody two suspects in connection with the attack on gangster Shaji alias ‘Potthu’ Shaji, 38, on Saturday.
It is learned that Ajish, the prime accused in the attack, and his friend Sudhish, who had arranged for his escape, are the ones who were held, though police officials remained noncommittal on the issue, preferring to state that the suspects were under observation and that they would be nabbed shortly. Shaji, meanwhile, is slowly recuperating in the Government Medical College Hospital here, with his condition being stated to be out of danger.
Shaji was allegedly hacked by Ajish, a workshop owner at Velanchira, near Nedumangad, here around 7 p.m. on Saturday. Police said Shaji, who had been detained more than once under the Kerala Antisocial Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA), apart from being arrested several times in connection with various offences, was released from jail on bail only recently. It is learned that he was upset with Ajish over repairs to the former’s motorbike and on Saturday, he reached the workshop. The argument that followed ended when Ajish allegedly hacked Shaji several times, mainly on the head and neck.
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Meanwhile, the Nedumangad police are yet to arrest the main accused in the February 27 attack on notorious gangster Vinod, alias ‘Pravu Vinod’, 30, of Karakulam. Vinod was waylaid and hacked by a gang at Valicode, near Nedumangad. Six persons, believed to have been in the gang behind the attack, are absconding, with a manhunt still on to trace them.