Twin murder: Prime accused held

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Nedumangad Police on Tuesday arrested the prime accused in the twin murder of notorious criminals Kokkode Shyam and Praveen that shocked the district about two weeks ago. The police identified the accused as Prince, 19, of Vettikonam near Nettayam. He was arrested by a team of police led by Nedumangad Deputy Superintendent of Police Mohammed Shafi and Circle Inspector Suresh.  According to the police, Prince had delivered the first blow on Praveen’s head using a heavy concrete block. The same blow was confirmed by the doctors to be the cause of death. Prince has also confessed to the police to have committed the crime.  He was arrested from near his house at Vettikonam around 4 am on Tuesday. The police had secretly rushed to Vettikonam after they received a tip-off that he had returned to his house. He had gone into hiding immediately after the murders were executed. Prince  was produced before the court on Tuesday and remanded in judicial custody. The police had earlier arrested four persons, Prasanth, Sreekanth, Shaji and Manu, in connection with the case. As many as 12 persons are included in the list of accused prepared by the police, of which five have already been nabbed.  Meanwhile, it is also learned that two more accused have landed in the custody of the police on Tuesday. However, the police have not confirmed the arrests.