EDAVA: 5 of the seven absconding accused have surrendered in the case of abducting a youth, beating him up and leaving him on the road in Ernakulam after his girlfriend gave them a quotation. The accused who surrendered on Thursday are Ernakulam native Abhinav (18), Palarivattom native Obad, Thrikkakkara native Athul Prashanth(22), Kalamassery native Ashwin Raj (21) and Edappally native Neeraj (22). They surrendered at Ayroor station through a lawyer yesterday. The police recorded their arrest in the afternoon. They will be produced in the Atingal court today.

Ayroor native Sivaram was abducted and beaten up by the gang after receiving a quotation from Lakshmi Priya, the first accused in the case. The police took Athul Prashant, Obad and Abhinav to the Varkala helipad as part of preliminary evidence collection. The youths have stated that they reached the helipad on the morning of the day of the incident and then kidnapped Sivaram and returned to Ernakulam.

Lakshmi Priya, the first accused in the case, and Amal Mohan, the ninth accused, are on remand. The police have filed an application seeking their custody.