KUNNIKODE: Two persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of Youth Front(B) Chakkuvarakkal mandalam President 38-year old Manoj. The arrested are Saji (45) of Suja Bhavan, Kokkad, Chakkuvarakkal and Anilesh (39), alias Animon, of Abhilash Bhavan, Kokkad, Chakkuvarakkal.

Despite allegations that the motive behind the murder was political, police say it was based on old grudge. In 2016, Manoj and his gang attacked the now-arrested Saji. Saji's finger was cut off in the incident. There have been several disputes since then. A clash erupted during the festival at Kokkad Siva temple on Friday night. Manoj’s body was spotted after this incident from a nearby location at around midnight. He was hacked on his neck and his fingers were severed from the body. Though he was taken to hospital, he could not be saved.

It was initially thought that he had been injured in a car accident. Doctors revealed that he had been stabbed in the head with a sharp weapon. With this, the police identified the culprits from the CCTV footage. Saji, who went into hiding after the incident, was caught from Ernakulam and Anilesh from Idaman. The culprits were captured under the leadership of Kottarakara DYSP R Suresh with a team comprising PA Mubarak, inspectors Sivaprakash, Joseph Leon and Biju.