Kollam: Kerala Police have arrested all eight accused in the brutal murder of gang leader Aluva Athul, who was hacked to death on a national highway in Karunagappally on Friday morning.

Four suspects directly involved in the attack were taken into custody near Mundakkayam in Idukki district, while others accused of involvement in the conspiracy were also held.

Those arrested include Noufal (28) and Shinu Peter (28). The identities of six other suspects have not yet been disclosed. According to Kollam City Police, the arrested individuals include both those who directly carried out the murder and those who were part of the conspiracy.

Police said the accused were first detained by Kottayam Police and later handed over to the Kollam City Police. The officials added that the investigation is still in its early stages.

Athul, who had recently secured bail in the Gym Santhosh murder case, had reported on Friday at the Karunagappally Police Station and left at around 11 am. Police suspect that the attackers began trailing him soon after he left the station.

As construction work was underway on a flyover at Puthiyakavu, vehicles were using the service road in the area. Investigators said the assailants deliberately rammed their car into the rear of Athul’s vehicle near a petrol pump close to the flyover.

The impact caused Athul’s car to fall into a pit dug for the flyover construction. The attackers then jumped out of their vehicle, smashed the windows and doors of the car using machetes and dragged Athul out before brutally hacking him.

Though a pedestrian, a two-wheeler rider and a tipper lorry driver reportedly witnessed the attack. After carrying out the assault, the attackers escaped in their car towards Oachira.

After the gang left, people at the nearby petrol pump rushed to the spot and alerted the police. Officers from the Karunagappally police station arrived soon after and shifted Athul to a hospital in an ambulance.

Police believe the attackers had been following Athul since morning and had carefully chosen a relatively less crowded stretch of road to carry out the attack. However, investigators said CCTV cameras at the petrol pump captured clear visuals of the incident, which helped authorities quickly identify and track down the suspects.