Alappuzha: The car used by the culprits involved in the murder of SDPI leader KS Shan was recovered by the police on Monday.
The car was parked at an empty field near Annapura junction in Kanichukulangara, Cherthala. Police and forensic team are at the site for further inspection.
Shan was murdered at 8pm on Saturday near Mannancherry school junction. The attackers rammed the scooter Shan was riding on with the car before hacking him to death.
The CCTV visuals of the murder has been collected. In the visuals, four individuals are seen attacking Shan with machetes.
Though Shan was first admitted to a private hospital in Alappuzha and later shifted to Kochi, he could not be saved.
Post-mortem reports
The post-mortem report had revealed that KS Shan, the state secretary of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) who was hacked to death on Saturday in Mannanchery, had around 50 wounds in his body. Most of the injuries were on his head, hands and legs.
As per the inquest report, the slain BJP's OBC Morcha secretary Ranjith Srinivas, who was hacked to death later, suffered almost 20 wounds in his body. He got deep injuries in his head and throat. He got five wounds in his right thigh and two wounds in his left thigh. He got severe injury due to a heavy blow by a hammer.
50 in custody in Alappuzha killings
Southern Range IG Harshita Attaluri said that the police had taken into custody around 50 persons in connection with the two murders in Alappuzha. Both the RSS and the SDPI workers were there among those who were nabbed. She said that the arrests of the accused would be made soon.
She said that the police were looking into the angle whether the two murders were inter-connected.
Harshitha claimed that the police did not commit any lapse, while adding that the police were taking all precaution. Special investigations teams are inquiring into the two murders. The law and orders situation is handled by another team.
About 11 persons were taken into custody in connection with Shan's murder. The police took into custody the owner of the car in which the murderers came to the murder spot. The car was taken on rent on December 16 from a native of Ponnad, who runs a car rental business. The police also nabbed Prasad, who took the car on rent.
Tight police bandobast in Mannanchery
A large posse of police are camping in Mannanchery and Ponnad areas. All vehicles passing through the area are being checked before allowing entry. Police personnel from the nearby police stations, police camps and the Rapid Action Force have been pressed into service.
The police conducted a route march in Kalavoor Parthan junction and from Ponnad to Mannanchery as part of maintaining strict vigil in the area. The Ernakulam Range IG and the Alappuzha District Police Superintendent also visited the place.
