Walayar, Palakkad: A lorry driver has been taken into custody after the vehicle's 29-year-old cleaner died in a stone attack as it is believed it is a case of honour killing. Vijay Murukesan, alias Mubarak Basha, of Coimbatore, was killed in the wee hours of Monday. On-the spot checks and postmortem point to a planned targeted attack rather than a stray case of stoning as was initially reported. Initially, it was reported that Vijay had died in stone-pelting carried out by supporters of the pan-India strike called by transporters.
Vijay had adopted Islam to marry his lover from the latter community, his relatives have reportedly told the police. This revelation has prompted the police to treat the murder as suspected honour killing.
The driver first told the police that a 15-member gang which arrived in a car and on bike had blocked the lorry near Kanjikode IIT and attacked. Later he said the attack took place in Coimbatore.
The police had initially concluded that Vijay was attacked at Ettimadai between Coimbatore and Valayar. However, a joint search conducted by Kerala and Tamil Nadu police at Ettimadai revealed that an attack that could have broken the glasses of the lorry did not take place there. However, the CCTV visuals near Valayar check post showed that the driver took Vijay, who was found seriously injured in the lorry, to hospital after Road Transport Officials asked him to do so.
The post-mortem report suggests Vijay died due to a deep injury that broke his ribs. Such injury is not possible if the stone was thrown from outside, the police reasoned.
The lorry was on its way to Kochi from Coimbatore. The Walayar Kasaba police have seized the vehicle.
