KOZHIKODE: Nasser, the owner of the boat that had capsized in Malappuram Tanur, has been arrested. The suspect, who went on the run after the accident that killed 22 people, was arrested in Kozhikode. It is reported that he will be brought to Tanur immediately.

Police registered a case against Nassar under the non-bailable section. Case has been registered for murder. Police had earlier seized Nassar's car during a vehicle inspection. Nassar's brother Salam and neighbor Muhammad Shafi were taken into custody by the police from the car and Nassar's phone was also seized from them. Apart from the brother and the neighbor, two more people were in the car and they were also taken into custody.

At the same time, it was found that the boat which had the accident had seriously failed in its safety arrangements. The boat has a license from the Inland Navigation and Ports Department, but fishermen, including rescuers, indicate that the boat is a fishing boat modified at an unauthorized yard in Ponnani.

The boat was put into service even before the registration process was completed. Also, twice as many people as permitted were allowed to travel at the time of the accident. The current information is that there were a total of 37 people in the boat.