RANNI: Police have arrested eight people in connection with the murder of a CITU worker in Perunad Madathumoozhi on Sunday night. Jithin Shaji (33), son of Shaji and Geethasha, natives of Mampara in Perunad, was killed. Jithin is a porter at CITU. Koonamkara Madathumoozhy PS Vishnu, Madathumoozhy P Nikhilesh Kumar (30), Saran Mon (32), S Sumit (39), M.T. Manish (30), Aromal (24), Mithun Madhu (22) and Akhil Suseelan (30) were arrested.

What Police say about the incident: Some of the accused are vehicle dealers. There were disputes between the accused and Jithin's friends regarding the purchase of a vehicle. They got into a fight at Madathumoozhy on the day of the incident. At around 9:30, Nikhilesh, Sharan, Sumit and Manish, Aromal, Mithun, Akhil and Vishnu, whom they had called, beat up Jithin's friend Ananthu.

Vishnu intervened and resolved the problem. Then there was an argument between Ananthu and Vishnu who came in the car. The accused also beat up Jithin who came to the spot after knowing about the problem. Meanwhile, the accused took the knife that Vishnu had kept in the car and stabbed Jithin in the right side of his stomach and thigh and escaped in the car. Jithin died by the time he was taken to a private hospital in Pathanamthitta. Ananthu, Manoj and Sarath were injured. The accused were arrested from Nooranad. The investigation is being led by Ranni DySP R Jayaraj. The funeral will be held on Wednesday in the house compound. His sister is Nisha.

CPM District Secretary Raju Abraham and CITU State Vice President PB Harshakumar alleged that Jithin was killed by BJP and RSS workers.