The Kadakkavoor police on Tuesday arrested two persons in connection with the brutal murder of Shabeer at Vakkom.
Two others have been taken into custody, but their arrest is yet to be recorded.
According to the police, those arrested have been identified as Vinayak (22) and Kiran Kumar (23). Two others, Santhosh and Satheesh, are believed to have been apprehended from near Chennai. The police are also on the lookout for two other members of the gang that was behind the murder.
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The brutal incident, which came to light after a video clip surfaced, occurred on Sunday. The gang assaulted Shabeer and his friend Unnikrishnan near the Vakkom railway gate.
Out of danger
Shabeer succumbed to his injuries at the Government Medical College Hospital here on Monday.
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Unnikrishnan, who is undergoing treatment, is believed to be out of danger.
The police have attributed the incident to a longstanding dispute between two groups in the locality over a temple festival. The groups had clashed in the past and related cases were booked at the Kadakkavoor police station. An official said that Sunday’s incident was in retaliation to an alleged attack by Shabeer and his friend on the residence of a person belonging to the rival group.
While there were reports of unrest in the locality, the police said that peace had been restored in the area with the deployment of security forces to prevent any attempt to whip up tension.