Six more arrested in Ananthu murder case

Thiruvananthapuram: The police team probing the alleged murder of 21-year-old Ananthu Girish of Konchiravila has arrested six more accused in connection with the case.

The police identified the accused as Vishnuraj (24) of Kaimanam, Harilal (23) of Thiruvallom, Akhil (21) of Kaimanam, Vineeth Raj (21) of Kaimanam, Vijay Raj alias Kunju Vava (18) of Kaimanam and Aneesh (24) of Kaimanam. Among the accused, Vijay Raj alias Kunju Vava is the younger brother of Vineeth Raj.

“They were hiding in an abandoned house near Poovar,” said Fort assistant commissioner R Prathapan, who is leading the investigation team. They were taken into custody by a team of police on Thursday night and their arrests were recorded on Friday.

The police had earlier arrested five youths. Now, the total number of people arrested in this case has become 11. Police sources said that they have also nabbed one more youth from Chennai. His arrest will be recorded as soon as he is brought to the city.

The arrested youths were taken to the murder scene and also to Arasummoodu, from where they kidnapped Ananthu, as part of evidence collection. They were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody by late evening.

“As per our probe, as many as 13 youths were involved in the murder, out of which three were part of the conspiracy, and 10 involved in the kidnap and murder,” the assistant commissioner said adding that all persons arrested on Friday had active role in the murder.

It was on Tuesday, the gang allegedly kidnapped and murdered Ananthu out of a grudge they had towards him for beating up Bijay Raj and Arun Babu during a temple festival at Konchiravila. The gang took him to a deserted plot beside National Highway 66 at Kaimanam, where they brutally tortured him to death.