TIRUR: A youth was found hacked to death at Kootayi Kattuvalappu in Tirur. The dead has been identified as Salih (28), son of Muhammadkutty and Hajara, a native of Pandazhi. Salih's friends, Kollarikal Rasheed (30) and Nausheed (26) of Chatheri Parampil have been admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital with lacerations. It is indicated that one person is in custody in connection with the crime.

The body was found behind a house in Kattilapally yesterday morning. The dead Salih is accused in cases including assault. A car was found wrecked within yards of the house where the body was found. It is believed that Salih, who was attacked from here, reached the house while running away. There is blood on the road from the car to the house. The car is in a residential area. The front glass of the car was smashed. Inside the car is a wooden stick believed to have been used to beat Salih. The police are tracking down the owner of the car. The police concluded that the murder may have been due to a dispute between drug gangs and a dispute over pigeon breeding. A police team led by Tirur DYSP K.M. Biju is camping at the spot. It is hoped that more information will be obtained by interrogating those injured in the hospital. Salih is single. Siblings: Ummerkoya, Habib, Fatima, Haseena, Fauzia and late Rafiq.