Kannur, Tuesday, January 03, 2012: The prime accused in a case relating to the brutal murder of notorious gangster ‘Kannadi Shaji’ in capital city on November 2, 2011, was apprehended near Thalassery here on Tuesday.

The accused identified as Anjaneyan (23), native of Vattiyoorkkavu, was taken into custody by a special police squad headed by Thiruvananthapuram city police Commissioner with the assistance from Thalassery shadow police.

He was absconding soon after the murder and was evading police arrest and had taken refuge at a relative’s residence. The accused would be brought to Thiruvananthapuram today.

Ambalamukku Krishnakumar and his accomplice Sanish, the two main accused were earlier sent to police custody till December 12 by the Thiruvananthapuram judicial first class magistrate Court.

The two had surrendered before the Vanchiyoor Court on November 29. Shaji was travelling along with his friend when the gang of unidentified persons attacked him near Chitra Nagar.

The incident took place 50 m away from his house where he was staying with his mother. According to the police, there were four persons in the car that was parked for quite some time anticipating Shaji. The victim sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the Medical College Hospital. He was declared dead on arrival at the casualty wing at 8.50 a.m.

Shaji’s friend Ajith, spared from the attack, fled after rushing him to the hospital and on learning that he had died. Later, the police traced him and obtained valuable clues about the incident. In his statement to the police, Ajith said that Ambalamukku Krishnakumar, a rival gangster, and one Sanish were among the assailants.

Investigators said Shaji sustained 23 injuries and six of them were fatal. The police are yet to identify the weapons used for the attack.