Suspects confess Pullani Faisal was hacked on head

MALAPPURAM: One of the key suspects in the murder of neo-convert Pullani Faisal has confessed to the police that he hacked the victim on the head with a sharp chopper ensuring sudden death. RSS workers, K. Prajeesh (30), T. Sudheesh Kumar (23) and P. Shreekesh (26) disclosed the details of the brutal act to the investigation team brought them to the spot in Kodinhi on Monday for collecting evidence. Prajesh confessed that he hacked on Faisal’s head when he tried to escape.

The three along with another accused Vipin, who allegedly stabbed Faisal, followed his auto on two motorbikes in the wee hours of November 19. It was Sudheesh Kumar who blocked the vehicle midway and Prajeesh and Vipin, who are still absconding, dragged him out of the vehicle. Kumar also forced a hotel near the murder spot to shut down during the attack. All the four returned to the RSS office in Thrikandiyoor near Tirur after the crime where they refreshed and dispersed. Prajeesh told the police that he abandoned the weapon in a river in Pullooni few kilometres away from Tirur.

Earlier in the day, the First Class Magistrate Court in Parapanangadi allowed the police plea to keep them in custody until Thursday for further questioning. Six witnesses in the case had recognised Pullooni natives Prajeesh and Sudheesh Kumar and Vallikkunnu resident Shreekesh in an identification parade conducted at the Tirur Sub Jail on Saturday. According to the police, Prajeesh and Sreekesh are habitual offenders and were part of several incidents of attacks including those against political leaders in Tirur and nearby areas.

Three suspects including Madathil Naray-anan, RSS Tirur Jilla Karyavahak, are still at large.  The police had arrested 11 in the case so far and eight of them, charged with conspiracy, have approached the court for bail. Faisal's body was found by a roadside in Kodinhi Farook Nagar, a day before his scheduled return to Saudi Arabia, where he worked as a driver for five years.