Kochi: The police have intensified efforts to nab the remaining key accused in Saturday night's mob violence at the labour camp of the Kitex Group at Kizhakkambalam on the outskirts of Kochi city. In all 164 migrant labourers have already been arrested. Video footage is being primarily relied on to identify the migrant labourers involved in the mayhem on Christmas night.
The video clippings seized from the mobile phones of the accused are being checked with the help of the Cyber Police. The visuals shot by some local people and Kitex workers have also been collected by the police.
Meanwhile, all the 164 arrested workers were remanded in custody by the court. The remand proceedings, which began on Monday, went up to Tuesday early morning.
The Kitex Group is cooperating with the efforts of the police to nab the kingpins behind the attack.
A meeting of the inquiry team was held at the Kunnathunad police station under the leadership of Perumbavoor Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anuj Paliwal on Tuesday.
One escapes police net
However, one of the key accused, hailing from Jharkhand, has reportedly managed to escape from the police clutches on Tuesday. He was reportedly involved in setting a police jeep on fire as seen in the videos of the mob violence.
He was one among the 11 migrant labourers who have been identified as a key accused by the Kitex Group authorities after checking the CCTV and mobile phone visuals of the incident available with the company officials and workers.
The company identified him and promptly alerted the police on Monday afternoon itself.
Kitex MD Sabu Jacob said that the company even alerted the police about the chances of him going underground. But, according to Sabu, the police replied that they would find him out in case he fled from the scene.
"We could not act promptly to nab him since we were busy with the remand proceedings of the 164 others who were booked for the mayhem," police authorities reasoned.
Meanwhile, police picketing and patrolling of the labour camp continued on Wednesday.
Govt to meet medical expenses of injured cops
Kerala Police would bear the medical expenses for the treatment of its personnel who were injured in the violence. The money they have already spent for treatment will be reimbursed. Director General of Police and State Police Chief Anil Kant confirmed this.
As part of taking over the medical expenses of the injured police officials, the State Home Ministry has asked the injured personnel to furnish their bank details with the ministry.
Eight policemen, including Kunnathunad Circle Inspector, were injured in the mob violence in the labour camp on Christmas night.
