The police, on Wednesday, finally recorded the arrest of notorious goon Ajith Kumar alias Ammaykkorumakan Soju, the key accused in a murder case in the city.
It was the ATM transactions done by Soju, of Bund Road, Karamana, which helped the police to nab him from his hideout at Ajmer in Rajasthan. “The investigation team trapped him by following the ATM transactions he carried out. He was held from Durga in Rajasthan. Investigation is on about those who had sent him money. If needed, they will also be made accused in the case once the investigation is over,” said City Police Commissioner T J Jose while addressing mediapersons here on Wednesday.
He added that the first information report of the case would be submitted without much delay.
There are 28 cases pending against 35-year-old Soju, who had earlier been detained twice under the Goonda Act. The incident related to the case happened during the late hours of September 4 when Saji, a tipper lorry driver, was killed at Nedumcauad near Karamana. Saji was one of the aides of another goon Choozhattukotta Ambili, who is in the leader of the rival group of Soju.
The investigation team led by Assistant Commissioner Fort K S Suresh Kumar and Circle Inspector Thampanoor Sheen Tharayil and comprising sub-inspectors R Sivakumar and K V Remanan were on the lookout for Soju across the state and in other states for the past two months.
Jose said that the team had halted in Delhi and Rajasthan for two weeks to locate Soju. He is also the key accused in the Jet Santhosh and Parassala Binu murder cases.
Manu alias Chenda Manu, 32, Vinod alias Punchiri Vinod 28, Renjith, 28, and Sabu, 35, were earlier held by the police in the Saji murder case. Four others who helped Soju and accomplices by providing money and shelter were also nabbed earlier.
However, sources in the city police said that it was through a native of Rajasthan that the cops could locate Soju. Soju befriended Hang, a native of Rajasthan, and sought his help to withdraw money thorough ATM.
The gangster used to travel in buses and trains during daytime and sleep at dargahs and temples during night, a source said.