Four held for assaulting dalit youth

KOCHI: The Perumbavoor police on Monday arrested four people, including owner of a private bus, for allegedly kidnapping and attempting to murder a dalit youth.
The arrested are bus owner Shani Nawab (32) of Vengola, bus driver Rasheed A (30), Najeeb Aliyar (37) and Jaleel Karim (30), residents of Vallom near Perumbavoor.
The four-member gang had kidnapped and assaulted Shahul, an autorickshaw driver, on October 28.
The police said that a verbal clash between Shahul and Rasheed on road led to the incident.
The police Shahul was kidnapped by six men, including the four arrested, from his house following the verbal spat he had with Rasheed at Vallom Junction earlier on the day.
Shahul was later beaten up with hockey sticks and mechanical tools used in bus. They later abandoned him at a deserted place.
The gang had also attacked Shahul’s friend Arun who came for defence. The accused allegedly hit him with a stone.
Shahul is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
The accused were booked for murder attempt (section 307 under the IPC) and offences under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.
They were remanded for a period of 14 days. The police are on search for the two absconding accused.