The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Attack on policeman: two arrested

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 25, 2007
ePaper

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Attack on policeman: two arrested

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The city police have arrested two youth in connection with the country bomb attack on a policeman in charge of outer security at the Central Prison here on May 21. The arrested are Prasanth of Peroorkada NCC Nagar and Renjith of Manacaud.

The police said the suspects had carried out the attack at the behest of two under-trial prisoners, Ambalamukku Krishnakumar and ‘Karate’ Suresh, who were arrested last month in connection with the gangland murder of ‘Aprani’ Krishnakumar. The suspects had thrown two country-made bombs at constable Shailendranathan at 6.35 p.m. when he was returning to his post after taking tea at a wayside eatery in front of the prison. The constable was injured in the attack.

Circle Inspector M. Radhakrishnan Nair arrested the suspects from Kowdiar. They were produced before the court on charges of conspiracy, attempt to murder and violation of the Explosives Act and remanded to 14 days in judicial custody.

Instigation

Circle Inspector A. L. Najmulhassan said the jailed gang leaders had instigated the attack to frighten policemen from frisking visitors, convicts and prison staff entering or leaving the jail complex. The Government had posted policemen as perimeter guards at three Central Prisons in the State to curb the smuggling of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, food items, currency and mobile telephones into the jail complexes. The guard is changed every week to prevent any corruption. The police Intelligence wing had reported in early May that certain corrupt prison officials and criminal elements, who benefited from the smuggling racket, were resentful of the police presence in front of the Central Jails.

The suspects had visited the gang leaders at prison at least three times. Quoting Prasanth’s ‘confessional statement,’ the police said the gang leaders told the suspects that they would ‘loose face’ among other prisoners if the attack was not carried out at the earliest.

On March 30, six prisoners led by two other gang leaders had threatened policemen manning the main gate for frisking visitors and convicts returning after court and hospital visits.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala