KOCHI: The man who was arrested in connection with the murder of a private bus conductor in Kalamassery on Saturday is a person with a troubled past, the police have said.
Sources in the police said Minoop Biju, a resident of Glass Factory Road in Kalamassery who fatally stabbed the conductor Aneesh Peter at HMT Junction, is married and has a daughter.
They said the murder was driven by deep-seated vengeance, as Aneesh allegedly had an affair with Minoop’s wife. According to an officer, Minoop had been in hiding in connection with his involvement in a recent case registered under the Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act in Eloor.
“Minoop’s wife and the deceased conductor had been friends for a long time, and the relationship deeply troubled Minoop. Despite his frequent confrontations at home over this matter, neither party seemed to change their behaviour,” said a police officer.
For more than a year, Minoop and his wife had been living apart. During this time, Minoop faced Pocso charges and went into hiding in Bengaluru. Even in exile, he warned his wife to sever all ties with the conductor, the officer added.
Three days before the crime, Minoop returned to Kerala from Bengaluru, took his wife’s mobile phone, and left. After reviewing her call history and the messages exchanged between his wife and Aneesh, Minoop contacted the latter. They had a heated argument which ended with Minoop issuing a murder threat to Aneesh, the officer said.
The officer said Minoop meticulously planned the murder at HMT Junction, the final stop of the shuttle bus service. He likely chose noon as the time to commit the crime, as it offered a more flexible, rush-free atmosphere, the officer noted. In the initial interrogations, the accused showed no remorse for his actions, the officer added.
On Minoop’s background, a police officer with the Kalamassery police station said, “He is a habitual offender and a history-sheeter under our jurisdiction. Possessing a long record of criminal activities, Minoop is considered a significant threat to society.” Additionally, he is required to report to the police station every month.
Other than the Pocso charges, Minoop has been booked on multiple charges, including intending to insult the modesty of a woman through indecent exposure and assaults.