3 in custody for murder of Kazhakuttom youth

Thiruvananthapuram: The police has taken into custody three youths in connection with the murder of a student hailing from Kazhakuttom. Police did not reveal the time they were taken into custody fearing it could affect the probe.

A dispute over the suspected hacking of a mobile phone led to the murder, it is said. The victim was identified as Vishnu, 21, student of Government ITI, Attingal. He was brought dead to Chirayinkeezh Taluk Hospital by three youths. The police identified one of the persons, who were taken into custody, as Surya, a classmate of Vishnu.

Vishnu and Surya were in Bengaluru for the past three months as part of training with the railways. They returned to the state only on Friday morning. The suspicion of hacking was raised as Vishnu told some of the personal details about Surya to Surya’s mother.

When the doctor who checked Vishnu told the youths that he was already dead, they went absconding. The police were alerted following this. The inquest revealed injuries all over the body probably caused by a wooden log. The three youths who brought Vishnu to the hospital told the duty doctor that he had sustained injuries after falling off a coconut tree at Kadinamkulam.

The police tracked down the autorickshaw driver, who was hired by the youths. The driver told the police that the youths hired him from Nalumukku near Peru-nguzhi under Chiray-inkeezh police station limits. Following an inquiry it was revealed that Surya resided at Nalumukku and that he was absconding along with his elder brother and another youth from Friday afternoon.

Surya’s parents also told the police that Vishnu had visited their home in the morning.