THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have arrested seven accused in the case in which a 19-year-old boy was stabbed to death for working against the drug lobby in Karimadom Colony. Karimadom Colony native Dhanush (19), Nithin (18), Dhanush's stepfather Suresh and four other minors were arrested by the Fort Police.

Police have intensified the search for Shanawas, the sixth accused, who is absconding. Four of the accused, who were travelling to Tamil Nadu, were caught during the vehicle inspection, while the rest were nabbed in the capital city itself. Arshad and his friends had been working against the drug lobby for years. According to police, the accused had several verbal arguments with Arshad and his friends over the matter.

The police said that the main cause of the fight that occurred the other day was the hostility that Dhanush and his gang felt after Arshad and his friends challenged them after the argument that took place two weeks ago.

On Tuesday evening, Dhanush and his gang called Arshad and his gang to the place near the Karimadom Colony turf on the pretence of settling the issues. During the talks, Dhanush and the other accused attacked them with deadly weapons. According to the police, Suresh alias Kittu, the third accused, held Arshad's hands behind his back and asked Dhanush to stab him. A severe cut on the neck killed Arshad.

Nithin, the second accused, hacked the hand of Arshad's brother Al Amin. Following this, the fourth and fifth accused repeatedly hit and kicked Al Amin. According to the FIR, Suresh attacked Arshad's friend Ajaz by throwing a broken piece of stone on his head. Ajaz was then beaten by Shanawas and the seventh and eighth accused.