Shaji murder: 3 held

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police on Saturday arrested three persons in connection with the murder of gangster Kannadi Shaji from Veli. The arrested are Prem Chandran,20, Sankar Ram, 27, and Alan Jayaraj, 19. Shaji was murdered on the morning of November 2 near his house at Kowdiar Junction. Shaji, who was riding a bike along with his friend, was hacked to death by a four-member gang which came in a car. The police had then hinted that the attack was led by gangster Ambalamukku Krishnakumar and Saneesh who had enimity with Shaji. The police had also took the car used by the attackers into custody. Shaji’s murder was in retaliation to the murder of Kokkad Shyam, a goon who was hacked to death at Karakulam near the city recently. Prem Chandran is the brother of Shyam. The three arrested, who were friends of Shaji, deserted him after the murder of Shyam to join Krishnakumar’s gang. The arrested had confessed to the crime to avenge Shyam’s murder. Besides arranging a vehicle for Krishnakumar and Saneesh, they had also conducted a dry run along with them on the previous day of the murder.  The three, who travelled in another car along with the car in which Krishnakumar and Saneesh were travelling, helped them to flee the spot and remain hidden.A team led by Cantonment Assistant Commissioner Haridas, Peroorkkada Circle Inspector V Jayachandran, SIs Anil J Rose and Ratheeshkumar is probing the case.