Kollam, 15 March (H.S.): Police have arrested all eight accused involved in the brutal daylight murder of alleged gang leader Aluva Athul in Karunagappally, Kollam district. The arrests were made during coordinated operations in Kollam and in Mundakkayam in neighbouring Idukki district, police officials said.

According to investigators, four suspects were taken into custody from Kollam, while the remaining four were apprehended near Mundakkayam. The police have also seized the vehicle allegedly used by the accused during the attack and have begun efforts to recover the weapons used in the crime.

Among those arrested are Naufal (28), a native of Kadathoor in Thazhava, and Shinu Peter (28), a resident of Thekkumbhagam in Chavara. The identities of the remaining six accused have not yet been officially disclosed. Police said that those arrested include both the individuals who directly carried out the attack and those who were part of the conspiracy behind the murder.

Investigators said the attack took place shortly after Athul had visited the Karunagappally police station to mark his presence as part of bail conditions in a separate case. While he was returning from the station, the assailants allegedly intercepted him and carried out the attack.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the murder was allegedly motivated by revenge. Police believe the accused were retaliating for an earlier attempt on the life of their associate, Aneer, in which Athul was suspected to have been involved.

The murder occurred barely two kilometres from the Karunagappally police station, highlighting the audacity of the attackers. Police said the assailants arrived in an Innova car and followed Athul’s vehicle before forcing it off the road near a stretch of the national highway that is currently under construction.

The attackers allegedly rammed Athul’s vehicle into a roadside pit created for ongoing highway works. Once the vehicle came to a halt, the group reportedly surrounded Athul and attacked him using sharp weapons, including machetes and swords.

Athul sustained a deep cut to the head, which police said proved fatal. He also suffered multiple injuries on other parts of his body. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the assault, even as vehicles continued to pass along the busy road.

Police have launched further investigations to recover the weapons used in the crime and to gather additional evidence related to the conspiracy behind the murder. Investigators are also examining the criminal backgrounds of those arrested and their links to previous cases.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman