THODUPUZHA: The postmortem report of Biju Joseph of Thodupuzha Chungam Mulayingal came out on Sunday. The postmortem report pointed to brain injury as the cause of death. There was internal bleeding too. The report also said that there was a wound on his right hand. The body of Biju Joseph (50) a native of Chungam Thodupuzha, was handed over to his relatives after the postmortem. Biju’s three ribs were broken in the brutal assault.

Biju was kidnapped in a car from his house precincts on Thursday. Inside the car, Biju resisted and made noises which made the second accused in the case, Ashiq Johnson (27) use his bare hands to hit Biju's head. This hit proved fatal and resulted in the death. The body will be buried today at the St. Mary's Forone Church Cemetery in Chungam.

With problems between them turning frequent, Biju and the first accused, Devamata Catering owner Kalayanthani Theekamkattil Jomon Joseph, decided to go separate ways. Jomon complained of not receiving a fair share after splitting. Jomon, irked by Biju's decision, brought in a quotation gang to settle scores.

Biju was kidnapped on his way to have tea at 5 am on Thursday. After death, the body was taken to the godown in Kalayanthani by 8.30 am and placed in a manhole and covered with concrete. In the meantime, Ashiq, a KAAPA accused was arrested in connection with another case. Mistaking the arrest for Biju’s missing, Ashiq confessed to the murder and told how the others in the gang fled to Aluva.

The police, who investigated Biju's wife's complaint, received crucial information about the murder from Jomon's relative. Jomon had told this relative about Biju’s accidental death and even borrowed Rs 25,000 to buy a new phone. The police then tracked down the phone number and reached Aluva to arrest Jomon. Jomon and the other accused were produced in court and remanded for 14 days.

The arrest of Ashiq, who is in jail in the KAAPA case, will be recorded today. The other accused, Muhammed Aslam and Jomin Kurian, were remanded yesterday evening. The investigation is being led by Thodupuzha DySP Emmanuel Paul and SI NS Roy.

The police conducted evidence collection with the accused in the incident. Biju's shoes were recovered from here.