The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Investigations on into gangland murder

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Friday, Sep 22, 2006
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Investigations on into gangland murder

Staff Reporter

Police suspect it to be a case of revenge killing

Thiruvananthapuram: The Rural police were investigating a city-based criminal network in connection with the gangland murder of Binu who was hacked to death by an armed group at Vellaikonam in Malayankeezhu police station limits on Wednesday afternoon.

The police suspect it to be a case of revenge killing. The victim had been named as the first accused in the murder of "Motta" Ani, a gang leader who was hacked to death in a similar manner at Thaliyil in the city on February 8. The police case was that an eight-member gang led by Binu had hacked `Motta' Ani to death at the instance of `Choozhattukottai' Ambili.

The Rural police said Ambili was accused in several cases, including murder, assault and retailing of illicit spirit. Binu was a close associate and `collection agent' of Ambili, according to the police. The police suspect that that `Motta' Ani was killed for trying to disrupt the illicit spirit business allegedly dominated by Ambili in Malayankeezhu and Kattakada areas.

Circle Inspector, Kattakada, M. Saifudeen, said `Motta' Ani's brother-in-law, Soju, a resident of Kalady in Karamana police station limits, had emerged as the prime suspect in the murder case. The police were also investigating the role of one "Thankuttan", a resident at Vellaikonam.

Binu's body was found in a dismembered state near the single-room residence of Thankuttan at Vellaikonam. The CI said Binu used to regularly visit the spot to collect the proceeds from the illicit sale of spirit in the area. The police suspect Thankuttan to have harboured the assailants. The CI said a machete and two country-bombs were recovered from Binu's body. "It seemed the youth was carrying the weapons in anticipation of a retaliatory attack from the members of Motta Ani's gang," the CI said.

The body of Binu was found at the end of a much-used road. He was sitting on his motorbike when the assailants pounced on him. There were 30 cuts on Binu's body. Not less than four persons had participated in the attack, the CI said.

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