The Kuruppampadi police on Wednesday arrested three people in connection with the murder of a taxi driver near Rayamangalam last week.
The arrested were identified as Mani, 27, of Munnar, Chinnaraj, 20, and Sebastian, 45, of Tamil Nadu. Another accused, Siva, 25, also from Tamil Nadu, is still absconding. The police also recovered the taxi car from Mani’s house in Munnar.
The half-burnt body of Hyder Ali was found in a bush at Rayamangalam on Thursday last. He was brutally beaten and stabbed before being set ablaze.
According to the police, Hyder was killed by the four-member gang in a bid to steal his car.
The police zeroed in on the culprits after they received a tip-off that Hyder’s car had been hired by a Tamil-speaking man from Vaykkara near Perumbavoor.
From the investigations held in this area, police came to know that it was Mani who had hired the car.
“The culprits hatched a plot to steal a car when they were together in a prison in connection with different cases of robbery. Their first plan was to hire a taxi from Perumbavoor.
But none of the drivers was ready to make a trip to Munnar via Pooppara. Later, he sought the help of drivers from Kuruppampadi.
Hyder, who was in need of money urgently, agreed to Mani’s demand,” said Crispin Sam G.S., the circle inspector of Kuruppampadi police.
Mani also took his partners-in-crime for the trip. They first reached Pooppara and all but Mani got down there, the police said. “Mani’s wife got in from there and they went to Munnar. She was dropped at Munnar and the car came back to Pooppara.
The trio got back in the car from there and returned to Perumbavoor. Hyder was killed when the car reached Mani’s house in Vaykkara.
His body was set ablaze and was dumped at Rayamangalam later. Their plan was to sell the car at Coimbatore,” Crispin added.
The arrested will be presented before the court on Thursday. The police said the fourth accused Siva, would also be in custody soon.