Kollam: An ITI student from Arinalloor here, who was attacked by a gang of people at his house alleging eve-teasing two weeks ago, died at the Thiruvananthapuram MCH on Thursday night. The Kollam police arrested Vineeth, 30, of Thevalakkara, Arinalloor, who is a jail warden of the Kollam district jail, in connection with the incident.
Renju Krishnan alias Renjith, 18, of Chirakkalakkodu Kizhakkathil at Thevalakkara, was assaulted by a six-member gang led by Vineeth who barged into Renjith’s house by 10.30 p.m. on February 16. They manhandled him in front of his parents alleging that he had eve-teased a girl who is Vineeth’s relative. They refused to stop the attack even after Renjith, an epileptic, pleaded that he had no connection with the incident. Renjith, who was critically injured, was taken to the nearby taluk hospital by his parents where his condition worsened. He was later admitted to the MCH and was undergoing treatment for the last two weeks.
Renjith had told the media at the taluk hospital that he was innocent and that it was a case of mistaken identity. Son of Radhakrishna Pillai and Rajani, Renjith was a student of the ITI in Chandanathoppe. He has a brother Rahul Krishna.
Radhakrishna Pillai had earlier alleged that the Chavara Thekkumbhagom police had not taken it seriously even after a case was registered soon after the incident. He also alleged that the police failed to record the statements of Renjith. His relatives alleged that those who attacked Renjith had close connections with the CPM Arinalloor south branch secretary. They also suspect the delay in arresting the rest of the accused was due to political pressure.
