GOVERNMENT OF PUDUCHERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT Dated: 17.05.2018 P R E S S N O T E

SENSATIONAL MURDER CASE KANNIPOYIL BABU CRACKED

With the arrest of four accused persons, the sensational murder case of Kannipoyil Babu has been solved.

On 07.05.2018, a case of 'Murder' was registered at Palloor Police Station on the complaint of Shri. Vinesh, r/o Palloor that his neighbour Kannipoyil Babu @ Dinesh Babu (aged 48 years) was hacked to death by a gang of persons using Vadival (long knives). The investigation of the case was taken up in the right earnest by the Police.

SP Deivasigamani and additional reinforcement of IRBn. were immediately sent to Mahe to restore normalcy in the Region. On 09.05.18, the DGP S.K. Gautam, IPS, SSP(L&0) Apoorva Gupta, IPS, an Asst. Commandant (IRBn.), 9 Inspectors, 2 Sub-Inspectors and Men from IRBn. & PTS reached Mahe. After visiting the scene of crime, a meeting was convened by the DGP at PS Palloor, where the Police Offices & Men were briefed. Post that, a meeting was held at PWD Rest House, Thalassery, in which the DGP (Kerala), DGP (Puducherry), IGP (Kannur Range), SP (Kannur Dt.), SSP(L8iO), ASP (Thalassery) and Police Officers from Mahe Region & Puducherry participated. The above Police Officers then visited both the SOCs in Palloor and New Mahe (Kerala).

In order to have focused investigation, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under SSP(L&0) Apoorva Gupta, IPS was formed. The SIT comprises of SP Deivasigamani, Inspectors Ragunayagam, Hemachandran, Rajkumar, Shanmugasundaram, Adalarasan, Arivuselvam, Karthikeyan, Shanmugam, SIs Ramesh & Senthil Kumar and Men of Special Task Force & Mahe Circle.

The Police team deployed sources in the area and extensively examined the witnesses and locals. The tactful and sincere efforts revealed the real motive for the murder and finally, the Police team located the accused persons, who were on the run across Kannur and Kozhikode Districts. On 13.05.18, the Police team laid a trap and the accused person, viz., Nijesh P.K. (34) S/o Viswanathan @ Nanu, Nijesh Nivas, Kurulilthazakuniyil House, Chokli (PO), East Palloor, Mahe was arrested. He has confessed to his crime.

The confession revealed the involvement of other accused persons including O.P Rajeesh, Karikunnumal Sunil, Jerin Suresh, Pandakkal Sarath & Shamjith in the offence. Further, it revealed that after the commission of murder of Kannipoyil Babu, the accused O.P Rajeesh handed over the weapons (two Koduval) to Nijesh for disposal and the latter hidden the same behind one locked house near Poosari Koil, East Palloor. The accused Jerin Suresh and Sarath picked-up the accused O.P Rajeesh in a car from near Poosari Koil, East Palloor and dropped him at Panoor. Based on the confession of Nijesh, the weapons of offence (two Koduval) were seized.

On 13.05.18, the Police team laid separate traps and the accused persons, viz., Jerin Suresh (31) s/o Suresh, Puthiyaveetil, Panoor, Kannur Dt. and Sharath (25) s/o Ramakrishnan, Shiva Ganga, Pandakkal, Mahe were arrested. The duo confessed to their crime. The confession led to the seizure of a Maruthi Swift Car.

On 14.05.2018, the accused persons, viz., 1) Nijesh, 2) Jerin Suresh and 3) Sharath were remanded to judicial custody.

On 15.05.18, the accused Shamjith T.P. @ Jithu (23), S/o. Gangadharan(L), Kamaladhalam Kuniyil House, Nademmal, (PO) Pathyakunnu, Panoor, Kannur district was arrested at Kutteri road, near Panoor (Kerala). On his confession, a mobile phone and two Koduvals (long knives) were seized. Those weapons were used by him and his associate 2

Arun Baskar @ Appu to kill Kannipoyil Babu. On 16.05.18, the accused Shamjith @ Jithu was remanded to judicial custody.

So far, 63 accused persons have been identified in the case of rioting, reported on 08.05.18, the day on which the funeral procession of the deceased Kannipoyil Babu was held. Their specific roles in the commission of offence are being finalised. The collection of CCTV footages from the is under process. Considering the sensitivity of the murder case, preference was given to the murder case. However, a separate Special Investigation Team has been formed to work out this case.

Intensive Police patrolling and Police Pickets are continued. The situation is under control. Untiring efforts are continued to nab the absconding accused persons.

-sd- (S.K GAUTAM, IPS) Director General of Police Puducherry