Five arrested for Laneesh murder

Kottayam: Police arrested five  persons on Tuesday in connection with the murder of mimicry artist Laneesh whose body was found in  a sack at a rubber estate at Kunnepalam near Pampady  last Friday.

The arrested are Sreelatha, 42, of Puthenparampil house at Kadamanchira near Changanassery, three members of a quotation gang – Shijo Sebastian of Mammodu near Changanassery, Shyam Kumar of Dhaivampady colony near Mammodu, and Ramesh of Dhaivampady colony – and  Manu of Paranthottathil house near Changanassery, an autorickshaw driver.

Laneesh  was killed by the  quotation gang engaged by Sreelatha, with whom Laneesh was in love earlier. 

She took vengeance on him for developing a relationship with another woman, police said. The gang was given Rs 25,000 for the murder.

Sreelatha runs an institution supplying home nurses at Kumaranellur near the town and the murder was committed at the institution.

It is in the auto  driven by Manu that  the accused carried the body of the victim in a sack. He was booked for destroying evidence.

The police charged culpable homicide, conspiracy and destruction of evidence  against the accused.

Police said  Laneesh and  Sreelatha were having an extramarital affair  for over  seven years.  When he developed a relationship with another woman, Sreelatha  asked him to stop it , but he refused. He also continued to take money from her.