Santhosh murder: Three in police custody

Thiruvananthapuram: The special police team investigating the gang rivalry murder of a person and the attempted murder of another at Karunagappally took three people into custody. Search has been intensified in Kollam and Alappuzha districts for the rest of the suspects.
Those who have been taken into custody have been identified as Athul Chakkara, Manu alias Kukku and Rajeev alias Rajappan. Police have released the images of Pyari, Hari alias Myna and Pankaj. Police said that as per the contract given by Pankaj, the others trespassed into the house of A Santhosh Kumar, 45, alias Gym Santhosh of Kettisseril Kizhakathil Veettil near Padanayarkulangara and murdered him.
Within 30 minutes, the accused hacked Aneer, 31, of Kannambally Thekkathil, a Kadathoor native, while he was coming out of a hotel on Manappally Road near Vavvakkavu. Police seized the vehicle in which the accused arrived for the attack from Vayanakam as they escaped from there after leaving the vehicle.
It was Manu who arranged the vehicle and police are questioning him. It is learnt that as the vehicle was taken from him by the accused claiming they were going for a trip to Goa.
The accused hacked the deceased by hurling explosives (thotta) at the room in which he was sleeping. The explosives were prepared by Rajeev. The accused are involved in several criminal cases.
The deceased was also an accused in several criminal cases and came out of jail a few days ago in a case registered for attempting to murder his friend by stabbing him with a knife. He was attacked by the same gang twice before as well but survived with injuries. After the incidents, he installed CCTV cameras at his house and spotted their arrivals when he was away. The deceased had informed the police about this.