The body of Sinoj, 34, key suspect in a kidnapping case, killed by the police in Dindigul, was handed over to his father on Tuesday evening after autopsy at the government hospital, the police said.
Sinoj, who hailed from Champakkara in Kochi, was an accused in the sensational Aluva spirit case. Thirupurakundram inspector, Jayachandran, shot Sinoj, apparently in self-defence when he and four of his accomplices, attacked the police team at a lodge in Dindigul on Monday evening.
The police had gone there on a tip-off that a group of suspected extortionists was staying there. One of the suspects, Biju, managed to flee while Varichiyur Selvam, Varghese and Ajit were arrested late on Monday night.
They were allegedly involved in kidnapping Kathiravan, panchayat councillor of Bogalur, Ramanathapuram, on February 12.
Investigations launched on the basis of a complaint by Mr Kathiravan led the police to the suspects at Suguna lodge. When the police entered their room, Sinoj tried to strangulate Mr Jayachandran, who opened fire.
Sinoj died on way to hospital and Mr Jayachandran was undergoing treatment.
“We have sent a team under Excise inspector Renjith to identify the persons. We will seek the custody of the persons from Tamil Nadu police. The arrested persons will be brought to Aluva," K Mohanan , Excise Deputy Commissioner said.
It was in August last year that the Excise squad seized over 7,000 litres of illegal spirit from a workshop by the National Highway in Aluva.
The Excise team had arrested four persons, including a model Surumi, in connection with the case. There were a total of 11 accused in the case and the police had arrested seven accused over a period of time.