Kozhikode: Seven people, including the parents of a young woman who married her lover against their wishes, were arrested for attacking a man for aiding the wedding.
Police said Paloramoottil Ajitha, 51, and her husband Anirudhanan, 63, contracted a gang to murder their relative for supporting the lovers' marriage. The gang was paid Rs 2.5 lakh to carry out the crime.
Besides Ajitha and Anirudhan, police have also arrested gang members Subhash Benny, 38, of Naduvilakkandi, Thalakulathoor, Arun, 27, of Souparnika, Ashwanth, 22, of Kandamkayyil House, Meethal Avinash, 21, Kaniyeri in Annassery, and Balu Pranav, 28, of Pulari.
The accused couple's daughter Janet fell in love with a relative, Swaroop, while she was a student at Pariyaram Medical College. Following their parent's opposition to their relationship, the young couple registered their marriage three years ago, and Swaroop returned to Singapore, where he has been working. Janet continued her medical course.
Suspecting that Rineesh, brother-in-law of Swaroop, had aided the marriage, Ajitha and Aniruddhan contracted their neighbour Benny for Rs 2.5 lakh to kill Rineesh.
The gang attacked Rineesh with an iron rod on December 11 night, and injured him grievously. The gang was arrested from their hideout at Chemancheri on Thursday night, police said, adding that the older couple were picked up on Friday morning. All the accused people were remanded in custody.
