One more held in Nazir murder case

KOZHIKODE: The special team probing the murder of city-based businessman and newly elected secretary of the Malabar Chamber of Commerce P P Nazir Ahamed took into custody a car mechanic for his alleged involvement in helping the assailants after the crime. The police said they had taken into custody Roopesh Kumar of Cheruppa for repairing the van used by a five-member gang, led by V P Hisham, for killing Nazir. The 50-year-old businessman was strangled to death in the vehicle and his body dumped on the roadside on the Chevarambalam road here at midnight. Investigators are examining whether Roopesh had any knowledge about the killing. The glass of the van broke when Nazir was strangled. The vehicle was taken for repairs the next day.

So far, the police have arrested seven persons, including brothers Hisham and Hirshad, who ran a pre-owned car outlet in the city. Hisham, the first accused in the case, had hired a gang of sand miner from his native place, Nilambur, after feeling jealous of his paramour deserting him and starting an affair with Nazir, the police said. Investigators have decided to interrogate several persons, including the husband of the woman with whom Nazir had a steady relationship. The husband is a medical practitioner employed in Bahrain. They are also examining whether Hisham had borrowed gold ornaments and cash from the woman and had tried to blackmail her. A list is being prepared for questioning the associates of Hisham, the police said.