Thiruvalla ,13 Feb (HS):

Police have arrested the seventh accused in the sensational gang rape case linked to a spa in Thiruvalla, bringing all suspects in the case into custody. The latest arrest was made after investigators identified a previously unknown accused during the interrogation of the prime suspect.

The seventh accused, identified as Shinto P. Sunny, a native of Manjadi, was apprehended from Changanassery by a special police team. According to officials, he was allegedly preparing to leave Kerala by train when he was tracked down and taken into custody.

Earlier, police had stated that six individuals were involved in the crime. However, during the custodial interrogation of the first accused, Mirthul Subin, investigators learned that a seventh person had also participated in the assault. This revelation prompted a fresh review of evidence, including CCTV footage collected from the vicinity of the spa and nearby locations.

Police sources said that a detailed examination of the CCTV visuals confirmed Shinto’s presence at the crime scene. Following this confirmation, a dedicated team intensified efforts to locate him, leading to his arrest in Changanassery.

With Shinto’s arrest, all seven accused in the case are now in police custody. Officials indicated that further interrogation will focus on establishing the precise sequence of events and the individual roles played by each accused during the incident.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the crime may have been triggered by a dispute related to alleged “goonda” extortion payments. Police believe that the assault was carried out as an act of retaliation after certain payments were reportedly not made. However, investigators clarified that further inquiries are underway to substantiate this motive and gather additional evidence.

The case has sparked widespread outrage in the region, with demands for swift justice and stringent action against those involved. Police have assured that the investigation is progressing swiftly and that all necessary legal steps will be taken to ensure that the accused are brought to trial at the earliest.

Authorities have also reiterated their commitment to thoroughly probing all aspects of the case to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman