ALUVA: Asfaq Alam (28), a native of Araria, Bihar, will be taken into police custody today in the case of brutally abusing and murdering a five-year-old girl in Thaikkattukara. Before that, an identification parade will be held at Aluva Sub Jail. The proceedings will be conducted under the supervision of Aluva Judicial First Class Magistrate 2. The permission for the identification parade was given by the Ernakulam CJM Court. Ernakulam POCSO Court will consider the custody application filed by the police today. Doubts, including whether the suspect is a Bangladeshi, will be clarified only after he is taken into custody.

Guljar Hussain, who arranged for the accused to stay at Thaikkattukara, Sanu, the owner of Mukkath Plaza where the accused stayed, fellow residents, nearby traders and some residents of Uliyannoor, where the accused stayed earlier, will be brought to the jail to identify him. Police have collected CCTV footage from more than 20 places. Following the suspicion that the identity card was fake, the police started a cyber cell investigation. National Informatics Center is being contacted. Police has asked for 10 days of custody of the accused. Evidence will have to be taken with him, including from Bihar.

UDF and BJP took out a protest march to the Aluva DySP office yesterday, alleging negligence on the part of the government and the police as the reason for the child getting killed. LDF also organized a march to the municipal office citing the deplorable condition of the Aluva market as the reason for the brutality.