2 friends of jewellery shop owner nabbed for murdering him

: Two friends of a jewellery shop owner were arrested today for allegedly murdering him and burning his body in a dry well at a village near Aruppukottai about a week ago, police said today.

They said the shop owner's wife had filed a missing person complaint. The woman said her husband had left their home at Tuticorin on Juen 16 with Rs 2.5 lakh cash to buy jewelerry, but did not return.

Police detained Gopal's friends Manikandan and Kannan, who used to accompany him whenever he went out to buy jewels.

The duo confessed that they strangulated him and when he fainted, pushed him into a dry well and burnt his body at Kovilangulam.
 

They were accompanied by one Beer Mohammed and his relative who followed them in another car and abetted them in the crime, police said.

Beer Mohammed and his relative are absconding, police said.