10 persons held over man’s suicide

KOCHI: The Ernakulam Rural police have arrested 10 persons in a case pertaining to the suicide of a 55-year-old man after a group of miscreants attacked his home and family members.

Of the arrested, two were held within a couple of hours after the incident occurred on Friday evening, while the others were taken into police custody late in the day. The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Arms Act, rioting and housebreaking Vasudevan, a native of Varapuzha, was found hanging in his house soon after a gang broke into his house and assaulted the family members. According to the police, the mental shock resulting from the attack might have forced Vasudevan to take the extreme step. However, a detailed investigation is required to confirm it, they said.

The accused persons, who were subjected to a detailed interrogation, will be produced before a magistrate on Sunday morning.  Meanwhile, the sleuths are on the lookout for four more persons in connection with the case. A preliminary investigation suggested previous enmity between the two rival gangs led to the house attack. Meanwhile, the CPM observed a hartal in the region in protest over the incident. They allege the assailants to be the members of the RSS. The police have intensified patrolling in the region considering the possibility of further clashes.