Kerala Police Nab All 10 Accused in Gangster Athul's Highway Murder Within Hours
In a remarkable display of efficiency, Kerala police have successfully arrested all ten individuals involved in the sensational murder of gangster Aluva Athul. The swift operation, conducted on Sunday, followed the brutal hacking death of Athul on National Highway 66 between Karunagappally and Alappuzha on Saturday.
Coordinated Multi-District Manhunt Leads to Rapid Arrests
Police officials confirmed that the arrests were made within hours after launching an intensive multidistrict manhunt involving several specialized police teams. Kollam City Police Commissioner M Hemalatha stated that this was a well-planned retaliatory attack, and police teams quickly gathered intelligence on the accused's movements.
"Police teams quickly gathered intelligence on the accused's movements, tracked the vehicles used to escape and intercepted the suspects across districts within hours," Commissioner Hemalatha explained. "We will continue strong action against organised criminal gangs and ensure that those involved in such violent crimes are brought to justice."
Details of the Arrested Accused
The ten arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Aneer Khan (32) alias Veerappan
- Noufal (30) alias Mannana Noufal
- Hussain (31)
- Ali Ummer (24), all from Kadathur
- Vishnu (28) alias Black, from Thazhava village
- Muhammed Ashiq (27) alias Sherif
- Shamnad (30) alias Shaji
- Adil Muhammed (21), all from Kulasekharapuram
- Mohammed Faisal Khan (29) alias Kanni Faisal, from Puliyur Vanchi North
- Shinu Peter (31) from Thovalakkara
Legal Proceedings and Evidence Collection
A formal case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 118(1) for voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons, Section 103(1) for murder, and Section 3(5) for criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention.
Police have successfully seized the vehicles used in the attack, and all arrested accused have been produced in court and remanded to judicial custody. The coordinated efforts of multiple police teams proved crucial in tracking down the suspects through their movements and vehicle patterns.
Sequence of the Brutal Attack
According to police investigations, Athul was attacked shortly after leaving Karunagappally police station, where he had appeared as part of his bail conditions. The assailants executed their plan with precision, ramming Athul's car with their SUV and forcing it into a roadside construction zone.
The attackers then smashed the vehicle windows and assaulted Athul with machetes and iron rods. The gangster died on the spot, while his friend Manu, who accompanied him, sustained serious injuries in the violent incident.
Expansive Investigation Across Multiple Districts
Immediately following the murder, investigation teams from the district crime branch and Karunagappally police were divided into multiple groups and deployed across neighboring districts. Within just three hours of the incident, the probe expanded to include Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki districts.
Police first detained Noufal, Shamnad, Shinu Peter, and Mohammed Faisal, all four of whom were directly involved in the physical attack. During interrogation, Noufal revealed that the remaining accused had abandoned the SUV used in the crime and escaped in another vehicle.
Final Apprehension of All Suspects
Police located the abandoned vehicle in the Varkala region and subsequently received intelligence that the suspects had moved toward Kottayam. With assistance from Kottayam police, the suspects were intercepted near Mundakayam.
Upon spotting police, the accused abandoned their vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. However, officers pursued them and successfully arrested Vishnu, Aneer, Hussain, and Muhammed Ashiq. The remaining accused, Adil Mohammed and Ali Ummer, were also taken into custody from Mundakayam while attempting to escape.
Retaliatory Motive Behind the Murder
Police investigations have revealed that the murder was a retaliatory attack for the killing of local gym owner Santhosh, alias Gym Santhosh, in March 2025. Athul was identified as the prime accused in that earlier case, establishing a clear motive for the violent highway attack that claimed his life.
