Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111559480300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Police hunt for ‘mystery’ man

Staff Reporter

Those held on charge of Renjith’s murder are clueless
The suspect is ‘fair, short,’ according to the police

Thiruvananthapuram: The city police are searching for a hitherto unknown youth in connection with the murder of Rashtriya Swayamasevak Sangh (RSS) activist Renjith at Mannanthala on October 17. Circle Inspector K. E. Baiju, the investigating officer, said the suspect is “fair skinned and short in stature”. He is one among the four assailants who hacked Renjith to death inside the milk booth run by him at the junction.

The police have identified the other alleged killers. They are “Ambalamukku” Krishnakumar, “Velli” Narayanan and Suresh Gopalan. The police arrested Suresh Gopalan on Friday. The other three are absconding.

The police said Krishnakumar recruited the elusive youth for the crime. Even those already arrested in connection with Renjith’s murder know little about the youth, including his real name. What is known is that he is a college dropout, allegedly offers his services to criminal gangs and constantly shifts his living quarters.

The police have learnt that Krishnakumar, who is accused in two other gang related killings, had fractured his hand while attacking Renjith with a machete. He was treated in a hospital at Nagercoil and later left for Bangalore along with Narayanan and the “fair skinned” youth in a Hyundai Accent car owned by engineering college student Firoz’s family.

The police had arrested Firoz and three of his collegemates this week on the charge of abetting Renjith’s murder. The police case is that the accused killed Renjith in retaliation for the murder of fellow CPI(M) activist“Vanchiyoor” Vishnu.

They had earlier arrested “Vanchiyoor” Hariprasad, “Chukkran” Renjith and “Motta” Aji, all low ranking CPI(M) leaders, in connection with the murder. They were searching for alleged gang leader “Karate” Suresh on the charge of plotting the crime.

The main accused in the case were Vishnu’s partners in the lucrative business of selling earth from razed hillocks to realtors reclaiming wetlands for construction. They also had interests in the thriving real estate business in the district.