THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) member Unni, one of the prime accused in the Venjarumoodu murder of two DYFI activists, attempted suicide. But his attempt to hang himself from the branch of a tree failed as the branch snapped into two, said the police. Unni was absconding since the incident and attempted to end his life while he was hiding in the Madapuram forest.

The police nabbed Unni from the Madapuram forest on Thursday. The police confirmed that he has direct involvement in the crime. After the incident Unni had been absconding for the past four days. With Unni’s arrest the number of accused arrested rose to eight and among the identified, only Ansar is left to be caught. The police has been interrogating Unni at a special centre here.

The two DYFI activists were hacked to death on Onam eve by a group of armed men at Thepammoodu in Venjaramoodu. Political rivalry is behind the crime, said the police.