Shooting at bar: Three accused arrested; unlicensed revolver used

KOCHI: Three members of a gunda gang were arrested in the case of murder attempt of bar staff. Vijay Jose from Edappally, Dilshan from Kalamassery and Shamir from Aluva were arrested. They are also accused in a drug case. Vineeth, a native of Parakkadavu, who fired the shot, and his accomplice are to be nabbed.

Sujin John (30), a resident of Thodupuzha, and Akhil (30), a resident of Cherthala, who were employees of the Edasseri bar on the Ernakulam Kathrikadavu-Thammanam road, were shot. Sujin was shot in the abdomen and underwent surgery. Akhil was shot in the right thigh. Both of them are out of danger in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Kochi. Jithin George (25), a resident of Kottayam Manimala, a bar manager, was also brutally beaten up. He is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Kaloor. The incident happened at 11 pm on Sunday.

The group of five reached the bar after the working hours to buy the liquor arranged by someone else, but they did not get the liquor. The accused, who were under the influence of ganja, then created a ruckus outside the bar. When Jithin tried to stop the accused, they beat him up. Sujin and Akhil tried to stom them from attacking the manager. Meanwhile, Vineet took a gun and started shooting. Vineet also followed and shot the employees who ran into the bar. Then the gang reached the Muvattupuzha area with a hired car. They abandoned their car at Mudavoor and split into several groups.

The police identified the five accused from the bar's CCTV. The abandoned car was also found. Later, the driver, a native of Edappally, was taken into custody. Two suspects were arrested yesterday morning.

Unlicensed revolver used

The accused have stated that the accused used an unlicensed revolver and left it on the road. It was found during the inspection of the bar and its premises. These will be handed over today for forensic examination. Four rounds were fired. The model of the revolver has not been identified.