Gangsters murder: Cops receive fresh leads

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city police, who had been left clueless on the whereabouts of the culprits behind the gangland murder of Kannadi Shaji at Kowdiar five days ago, are learnt to have received fresh leads in the case. Two persons, who have been allegedly aiding the culprits in hiding, have landed in the custody of the police.  The police have not divulged more details on the persons in custody and maintained that they were only summoned to the police station as part of the inquiry. But they admitted that the persons in custody had a criminal background with several cases existing in their name at various police stations in the city. It was also learnt that they were the members of the gang of henchmen led by the prime suspect in the case, Krishnakumar.  Sources said that they were taken into custody after the police confirmed that they  had been providing help for the four alleged murderers who have been evading arrest. In an attempt to trace the suspects, the police had tried to trace the signals of their mobile phones, but in vain, as the phones were switched off. The police then decided to monitor the mobile phones of the family and friends of the suspects, following which they became aware that the persons in custody were providing help for the fugitives.  The police are hoping to obtain valuable leads that may take them to Krishnakumar and gang. Meanwhile, the police have also seized the car used by the culprits while executing the crime. The Hyundai Santro car belonged to a rent-a-car shop at Veli, from where the vehicle was confiscated. Shaji, alias Kannadi Shaji, who was once a close friend of Krishnakumar, was allegedly waylaid at Kowdiar and hacked to death by the latter and his accomplices on November 2 at 8 am. The incident, which took place in the heart of the city, not far away from the Peroorkada police station, had shocked the entire city.  The police are also probing into the involvement of the sand mafia in the district as Shaji had carried out several goonda operations for the mafia here.