MALAPPURAM: The incident in which a youth accidentally died of a pellet injury from an air rifle at Perinthalmanna turned out to be a murder with the police on Monday arresting a friend of the deceased.
It was on Sunday the victim Masin, 21, of Mannathumangalam, died of pellet injuries. Initially, it was suspected to be an accidental firing case.However, a probe into the incident raised suspicion and Masin’s friend Mussammil, 25, was arrested by the police.
The police said a case was registered against Mussammil and he is being interrogated at the Perinthalmanna station. Police said Mussammil has admitted to the crime.“Mussammil was in an inebriated condition at the time of the incident. The exact reason behind the incident can be ascertained only after detailed investigation. The victim and the accused were from the same place and had been friends for a long time,” said Perinthalmanna C I Saju K Abraham.
According to the autopsy report, the death was owing to the deep injury on the neck caused by the pellet.On Sunday, nine persons, including Mussammil were taken into custody following the incident. Eight persons were let off after the interrogation.The police said the incident occurred at Nirappil where a ten-member gang, including the victim, had assembled for merry making and drinking. Mussammil, who was drunk, allegedly shot Masin with the air rifle, which the gang was carrying for hunting.
Masin was rushed to the hospital by Mussammil and another friend Shibin. However, they left the hospital immediately after admitting him. Police collected visuals of the two from the CCTV camera at the hospital.Masin was an audiology student at AWH Engineering College in Kozhikode. His body was handed over to the relatives after postmortem at the Kozhikode Government Medical College. He is survived by father Kunji Mohammed, mother Khadeeja and sisters Seenath, Sabitha and Shahana.