Idukki: The two accused in the Dheeraj Rajendran murder case, Nikhil Paili and Jerin Jojo, were remanded in custody till January 25. Significantly, the remand report states that the murder of the 21-year-old engineering student, on Monday, was planned.
The accused duo will be held at the Idukki District Jail at Muttom. Police will submit a request for their custody on Thursday.
The police had on Wednesday conducted evidence collection with the prime accused Nikhil. However, the murder weapon could not be retrieved.
Students' Federation of India (SFI) activist Dheeraj Rajendran was stabbed to death outside the Government Engineering College, Idukki, during the students' union election on Monday.
Youth Congress Vazhathoppu block president Nikhil Paili and his accomplice Jerin Jojo were arrested soon after the murder.
The First Information Report prepared after preliminary inquiry by the local police cited political animosity as the murder motive.
Nikhil, 29, was charged with murder, while Jerin, 22, was slapped with offences such as attempt to murder and rioting.
Police are trying to find out whether more people were involved in the crime. Two others, including Idukki Engineering College KSU Unit Secretary Alex Rafael (21), are in custody.
Two students were also injured during the melee. They are Abhijit T Sunil, 21, of Thrissur and AS Amal of Kollam, 23.
Dheeraj's body was cremated in the wee hours of Wednesday though the funeral was planned for Tuesday evening. A memorial would be erected in his name at the land bought by the CPM near his house.
