'I did not commit the crime': Accused breaks down during evidence collection in Abhiram murder case

Thiruvananthapuram: The second accused in the murder of student Abhiram at Pangappara broke down in front of the media during police evidence collection at the crime scene, claiming he was innocent and had been falsely implicated in the case.

"I don't know Abhiram. I am being held in this case for a crime I did not commit. I have never been here. I did not even come here on the day of the incident. They have made me an accused," Umar said, breaking down in tears.

He made the emotional appeal while police were taking him to the spot where the murder took place as part of the evidence collection.
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Umar and the third accused, Anandha, a native of Manacaud, were taken into police custody on Saturday. According to the police, the 17-year-old first accused murdered Abhiram with Umar's assistance.

The police first conducted evidence collection at Umar's house before taking him to the site of the murder.

Aishwarya, Umar's girlfriend and a native of Akkulam, is also an accused in the case. The investigation team said the first accused and Aishwarya would be taken into custody on Monday for further evidence collection.

The police are also investigating whether more people were involved in the crime.

According to the police investigation, the first accused used Anandha's Instagram account to contact Abhiram and summon him to a spot near a banana plantation at Peroor in Pangappara on November 1. He allegedly assaulted Abhiram brutally, leading to his death.
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The police suspect that the accused had originally planned to target one of Abhiram's friends, but Abhiram ended up being killed instead.

The 17-year-old first accused is currently lodged at the observation home in Poojappura.

Meanwhile, Abhiram's family has raised doubts about the first accused's age, claiming that he is an adult. His relatives have also pointed out that the accused had studied in a higher class than Abhiram at school.