The Paravoor police on Wednesday evening took four suspected Popular Front activists into custody on charges of brutally attacking a hotel owner in Vaniyakkad on Tuesday.
The arrested were identified as Anas (20), Tahir (32), Manaf (25) and Sahir (45), all from Vaniyakkad near Paravoor.
According to the police, the four were part of the gang that allegedly hatched a conspiracy to attack the victim Abdul Nazer (42). However, they were not among the people who attacked Nazer, the police said.
The four men are being interrogated by the police, while a trap has also been set for the men who led the attack.
The four were held from different hide-outs in Vaniyakkad, the police said. “The attack was operated in the backdrop of the change of committee in the Vaniyakkad mosque.
The mosque had been under the control of a particular committee, which had a link to the Popular Front. However another committee, led by Abdul Nazer, took over charge eight months ago.
This is believed to be the reason behind the assault,” said Abdul Salam K.A, circle inspector of the Paravoor police.
Abdul Nazer was returning home after offering prayers at the Vaniyakkad mosque in the early morning hours of Tuesday.
He was signalled to stop his scooter by someone purporting to ask him directions to a near-by place. Suddenly, six more assailants swooped down on him and attacked him with swords and steel pipes.
The attackers soon fled from the scene leaving behind a profoundly bleeding Nazer who then rung up the cops from his mobile phone.
The victim, who received deep wounds on his legs, hands and face, was rushed to Paravoor Taluk Hospital and then to a specialist hospital in Ernakulam.