Suspended Cong men surrender in connection with assault case

Two suspended Congress leaders, who were named as accused in a case of alleged abduction and assault of a trade union worker in Kochi, today surrendered before the investigating officer.
Marad Municipal Vice Chairman Antony Asanparambil and councillor Jinson Peter were suspended from the Congress in November following a directive from state Congress chief V M Sudheeran.
The two leaders surrendered before Circle Inspector of Central Police station here this morning, days after the Kerala High Court rejected their anticipatory bail plea, police said.
Antony, who was also serving as the President of Marad Mandalam Congress committee, is the alleged mastermind in the abduction of Shukkoor, a building contractor, they said.

The High Court had directed them to surrender before the investigating officer within a week.
Kochi city police had arrested several persons on a complaint from Shukkoor that he was assaulted after being abducted in connection with a land case.

Police probing the case said the gang had acted allegedly at the behest of Antony, who has rejected the allegations and said he was being framed in the case.
Both Antony and Jinson were absconding after the police registered case against them.
According to the police, the arrested persons were allegedly linked with the land mafia operating in the city.

Newly appointed president of the District Congress Committee, T J Vinod, said there was no question of protecting those involved in the case.
The city police have launched a crackdown on members of 'goonda-political' mafia in Kochi after the CPI(M)-led LDF government came to power in May.
Earlier, CPI(M) Kalamassery Area Secretary Zakir Hussain had surrendered before police following a complaint to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by a man stating that he was threatened by him over a business deal.
Vijayan, who also holds the Home portfolio, had said in the Assembly on October 25 that his government would not protect those people who indulge in criminal activities such as extortion.