The city police have arrested four youths in connection with the killing of R. Praburaj, 23, during a clash between two gangs at Kunduparamba in Kozhikode a fortnight ago.
The police nabbed Vysakh, 20, of Athanikkal; Jishnu aka Kichoottan, 19, of Chelannur; P. Ayush , 21 of West Hill; and Jijeesh alias Muthu, 21 of Edakkad, during raids carried out at their residences on Friday and Saturday.
Previously Kannan Puthiyappa, 22, a gang leader, Vivek, 22, and Subhash, 23, hailing from Kunduparamba and Puthiyappa respectively had surrendered before the Koyilandy Judicial First Class Magistrate Court.
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Praburaj of Kattuvayal Colony, Nadakkavu, was killed during clashes between the hostile gangs at around 8 p.m. on September 8. His friend, Thariq, 23, of Arakkinar, had sustained serious injuries on the head and neck in the violence.
The accused were charged under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt of murder), 141 (rioting) and 147 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. They were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, G. Sparjankumar, Commissioner of Police, Kozhikode city, said.
The murder of Praburaj was the result of a rivalry between two karate-kickboxing clubs in the city. A dagger, iron rods and a Nunchaka (chainsticks), a weapon used in martial arts, had been recovered from the accused, the Commissioner said.
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Two gangs led by Kannan and Abhilash under the guise of martial arts training had been reportedly hired by rival groups to settle scores against them. A clash between the two groups had occurred at the Zamorins Guruvayurappan College on August 26, the Commissioner said. All the accused in the case were below 25 years of age and they were students of polytechnic courses and degree courses in various educational institutions in the city. Their parents had no idea about the anti-social activities of their wards, K.B.Venugopal, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said.