Police say dispute over the purchase of a motorcycle led to the murder

Two youths in their early twenties were hacked to death in an alleged gangland murder at Aramkallu, near Peroorkada, on the busy Thiruvananthapuram-Shencottah road on Wednesday night.

The rural police gave the name of the deceased as Syam alias Kokkotte Syam (24), a resident of Prem Nivas, Brindavan Garden, Kokkote near Ambalamukku in the capital, and Praveen (23), a resident of Ravi Nagar, behind Thankamma stadium, Ambalamukku.

The incident occurred around 10.45 p.m. near the waiting shed at Aramkallu that falls under the Nedumangad police station limits. The police recovered two motorcycles, a machete, and a sharp-edge weapon reportedly used for the murder from the site.

According to the police, Syam is involved in several criminal cases and was released from jail on June 18 this year after being detained under the provisions of the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act. The issue over the purchase of a motorcycle by Syam from one Prasanth led to the murder in the suburbs that shocked the residents and the police alike.

Syam was not satisfied with the motorcycle and had complained over its performance and mileage, the police said. The talks between Syam and rivals to solve the issue commenced at 6 p.m. and led to verbal duel over mobile phone and directly. Three rounds of talks were held, including one in the presence of a mediator. Both of them were called to Aramkallu over telephone. Syam and Praveen along with one Sundardas and Binu reached the spot in two motorcycles.

Syam and Praveen were hacked by the gang that comprised over 10 people. Seeing that Syam and Praveen were being attacked, the two youths who had come along with them fled from the scene. The police said the deceased suffered deep injuries from the sharp weapons and died on the spot.

The police managed to get vital clues from Sundardas and Binu and efforts were on to nab those behind the murder. A team led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nedumangad, K. Mohammed Shafi and comprising Circle Inspector (Nedumangad) S. Suresh Kumar is investigating the case. The bodies were handed over to their relatives after a post mortem.

The incident shocked the residents in the area as the gangland murder took place on the side of the busy road. The police said as the city police had been able to crack down effectively on gangs operating in the capital, many had sneaked into the suburbs and were operating in the Vazhayila-Karakulam-Vettikonam belt where the land price had gone up due to rapid urbanisation.

Following the gangland murder, the city police rounded up many gangsters on Wednesday night who were operating in the Ambalamukku-Peroorkada area. As 10 persons were reportedly in the gang, the police were also looking into whether these gangsters had any role in the murder.

The Nedumangad police have registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC.