Kovalam police on Monday arrested one of the accused in connection with a machete attack on six members of a Chendamelam troupe who were on their way to attend a temple festival in Tamil Nadu. Two women, including a pregnant woman, were also injured in the incident.
Arrest and Identification
The arrested accused was identified as Jithu Lal (33) of Thiruvallom. According to police, the attack was allegedly led by Vishnu alias Tower Vishnu. Cases have also been registered against two other suspects, identified as Anikuttan and Kadaappu.
Details of the Incident
The attack occurred on Sunday night on Kovalam K S Road. The victims were identified as Ashwin (21), Vaishnav (24), Pankajan (58), his sons Aneesh (32) and Rajesh (29), and their relative Abhilash (27). Additionally, Pankajan's wife Sindhu and Rajesh's wife Anila sustained injuries during the assault.
Motive Behind the Attack
Police investigations revealed that the attack stemmed from multiple disputes. These included objections over noise from Chendamelam practice sessions, resentment towards outside performers visiting Pankajan's residence, and previous enmity linked to an assault case involving Tower Vishnu. The search for the remaining accused is ongoing, police said.
