A notorious gangster from Kerala, known as Aluva Athul, was hacked to death in a shocking broad daylight attack in Karunagappally on Saturday, sending shockwaves across the region.
Athul, who was a rowdy sheeter and the prime accused in the murder of gangster Gym Santhosh, had reportedly just stepped out of the police station after securing bail when the brutal attack occurred near Puthiyakavu in Karunagappally. CCTV footage of the incident has since surfaced, capturing the dramatic sequence of events.
Car rammed before brutal attack
According to preliminary reports, Athul was travelling in a car when another vehicle carrying a gang of five rammed into his vehicle with force. The impact pushed Athul’s car into a roadside drain.
The attackers immediately got out of their vehicle and launched a violent assault on Athul while he was still inside the car. Armed with sharp weapons, the gang repeatedly hacked him, leaving him fatally injured before fleeing the scene.
Police officials said an investigation has been launched to identify and arrest the assailants. Initial findings suggest that the vehicle used by the attackers did not have a Kerala registration, raising suspicions about the gang’s origin.
Long-standing gang rivalry suspected
Investigators believe the murder is linked to an ongoing feud between rival criminal gangs operating in the Karunagappally and Ochira areas.
Athul had been the first accused in the murder of another gangster, Santhosh—popularly known as Gym Santhosh—who was killed on March 27 last year. In that incident, Athul and his associates allegedly stormed Santhosh’s house in a car and attacked him.
During the assault, the gang reportedly threw a bomb at the house before attacking Santhosh. Athul is said to have used a club to break Santhosh’s legs during the brutal attack, which took place while Santhosh’s mother was present inside the house.
After committing the crime, Athul went into hiding but was arrested by police 21 days later in Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu.
Police believe the latest killing was a retaliatory strike stemming from the long-standing gang rivalry. Investigations are ongoing to track down the attackers and establish the full sequence of events.