KOLLAM: The police have arrested two notorious criminals under Goonda Act from here. They have been identified as Manu Gopalan, 38, a native of Palkulangara near here, and Shanu alias Shanavas, 27, of Ammachi Veedu colony.
According to police, Manu Gopalan is involved in more than 100 criminal cases, including murder, robbery, bike theft etc in different parts of the state. He was involved in the case of lifting a taxi car after murdering its driver Madhavan in Kottayam 8 years ago. He was convicted in the case and has filed an appeal.
He was also involved in a case of injuring 7 policemen at Changanasseri by hurling a bomb at them. He was also a leader of a quotation gang. The District Collector has invoked Goonda Act against Manu Gopalan, who was also the leader of a quotation gang, in December 2008. However, he was absconding since then. Six months ago, he and his gang attacked a group of people who were returning after offering prayers at a mosque at Palkulangara.
He was arrested by a police team led by Kilikolloor SI Alexander Thankachan from Kaniyapuram. He stayed there by pretending as a serial actor. Shanavas, who is a member of the gang led by Manu, is involved in 6 criminal cases.
He was a wanted criminal in the Sankar murder case at Thakaraparambu in Thiruvananthapuram.