Attack on gangster: One held

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One person was arrested in connection with the  attack on gangster Pravu Vinod at Valicode near Nedumangad. The Nedumangad police said the accused Abhilash, 28, of Nettayam, was traced using the registration number of the car that was allegedly used by the assailants to block Vinod’s path before hacking him. The car was owned by the elder brother of Abhilash, but the latter was using it, police said.

Eyewitnesses to the attack had noted down the number of the car, after which Abhilash was traced to a house in Peroorkada where he was holed up late on Saturday. The other two in the gang that attacked Vinod are suspected to be natives of Nettayam, who have been identified by the police as Sugathan, and Shaji, both are now at large. Police said the two came under the scanner since Sugathan had been attacked in similar fashion in April last, with the assailants being alleged members of Vinod’s gang. Friday’s attack, police believe, could have been in retaliation to the April incident. Abhilash was produced in court and remanded in judicial custody on Sunday. Vinod is undergoing treatment in a private hospital at Pattom. His condition was stated to be out of danger.