One of the absconding accused in IUML worker Mansoor's murder case was found hanging from a tree in Kozhikode. The deceased was identified as Ratheesh Kuloth, a native of Pullookkara near Panoor in Kannur.
The police have stepped up their hunt for the 11-member gang that killed IUML activist Mansoor on April 6, the election day. Police had issued a lookout for Ratheesh, who had been absconding. He is also a neighbour of Mansoor and a CPM supporter.
Earlier, police received crucial information from the mobile phone of arrested CPM worker Shinos. The information gave a clear image of planning before the attack. According to reports, the accused persons had a clear plan and even messaged through WhatsApp about punishing Mushin, Mansoor's brother, based on the clash between UDF and LDF activists on the poll day. As some of the messages were deleted, the police had handed over the phone to the cyber cell to retrieve the deleted WhatsApp chats.
Meanwhile, reportedly another accused, who was directly involved in the murder, was arrested. He was not there in the first list of accused ones. However, the Thalassery police have arrested him and is considered to be the kingpin behind the incident. Almost all the accused in the list have CPM connections. Shashi, the eighth accused in the case, is the CPM Kochiyangadi branch secretary and Jabir, the tenth accused in the case, is a CPM local committee member and Suhail, the fifth accused, is the DYFI Panoor area treasurer.
Shinos, who was arrested earlier, is the first accused in the case. Ratheesh, the second accused's body was found hanging from a tree. Ratheesh's body will be transferred from Kalikulambu to Kozhikode medical college today.
On the other hand, the Opposition alleged that the investigation is ineffective and CPM was trying to save the accused ones. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala and PK Kunhalikutty will take part in the protest rally organised by the UDF against the delay in arresting the accused ones.
