KANNUR: Police have arrested P Akshay, a native of Echoor, in connection with the murder of a youth named Jishnu in a bomb blast near a wedding house at Panthrandukandi Road in Thottada. Akshay was Jishnu's friend. CK Rijul, Saneesh and Jijil were taken into custody for making the bomb and causing the clash.

Police said Mithun, who hurled the bomb, is absconding. The bomb was with the gang who came to the bride's house from Echoor. Jishnu, a member of the Echoor gang, Akshay, who was arrested, and Mithun, who is in hiding, knew that the bomb had been brought. They conspired on Saturday night. They made the bomb by mixing explosives.

The bomb was hurled shortly after 2pm on Sunday at the 'Sindooram' house in Chalapanthrandu Kandi Road in Thottada in connection with Shamalraj's wedding. A fight broke out between the residents of Thottada and Echoor at the wedding house that ended in a bomb blast. CM Jishnu, 26, of Balakandi House, Kannur, was killed as the bomb got deflected after hitting another person's hand and hit his head. After the postmortem at Kannur Govt Medical College Hospital, the body was kept for public viewing at the Chelora Ground. The body was then cremated at Payyampalam in the presence of the crowd that flocked here.

Akshay, a native of Echoor, was arrested by the police. Akshay was taken to a firecracker shop in Chova for evidence collection. He has admitted to the crime, police said.

Akshay's father claims he is innocent

Akshay's father Prasannan said his son is innocent. "Akshay has never been involved in a case before. The deceased Jishnu and his son are friends. I am sure the son will not do anything like this. We will prove his innocence. He was trapped because the police could not find anyone else. He may have been forced to confess to the crime by the police", he said.