Gang rivalry in Kollam: key accused in Gym Santhosh murder hacked to death

In a brazen act of gang rivalry, a notorious gang leader and prime suspect in a murder case was hacked to death in broad daylight on Saturday. The incident occurred on a busy stretch of National Highway near Karunagappally, sending shockwaves through the local community and passers-by. The deceased, identified as 30-year-old Atul (known as Aluva Atul) from Krishnavilasam, Madathilkarayma in Oachira, was attacked while returning from Karunagappally police station. Atul had recently been released on bail and was required to report to the station as part of his bail conditions.

According to police, Atul was traveling in a car with a companion when they were intercepted by a gang. The incident occurred around 11 am when the four-member gang, traveling in a Haryana-registered Innova, reportedly chased Atul’s blue Swift car as he was heading toward Oachira. The assailants rammed Atul’s vehicle, forcing it into a ditch dug for highway construction. Once the car was immobilised, the gang smashed the windows with weapons, dragged Atul out, and inflicted multiple deep wounds on his head and legs.

Though police rushed to the scene and transported a critically injured Atul to a private hospital in Karunagappally, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Atul’s companion Manu, who is believed to have been driving, sustained injuries but managed to flee the scene during the chaos. Though the attackers fled the spot immediately after the hit, police have recovered CCTV footage of the brutal assault.

Authorities suspect the murder to be the result of a long-standing gang vendetta. Atul was the prime accused in the brutal killing of rival gang leader Gym Santhosh last year. In that incident, Atul and his gang allegedly used explosives to break into Santhosh’s home and murdered him in front of his mother. Following the incident, Atul had gone into hiding and was eventually captured by police from Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu. The cops had also recovered a cache of lethal weapons, including a pistol, from his residence.

The Karunagappally region has seen repeated clashes between rival criminal factions over the past few years. Police officials stated that they have already obtained significant leads regarding the identity of the suspects involved in Saturday’s retaliatory strike. Specialised teams have been formed to track down the assailants, as tensions remain high in the area following the latest escalation of gang warfare.