Murder of Muthoot chiefs son not planned,say cops

The police on Monday claimed that the murder of Paul M George,executive director of the Muthoot Group....

The police on Monday claimed that the murder of Paul M George,executive director of the Muthoot Group,was not a planned one although a professional killer gang committed it. The police said the businessman was possibly stabbed in a skirmish following a hit-and-run involving the SUV driven by him.

Eleven members of the gang were arrested and search was on for others,including the person who stabbed Paul to death. Paul was found murdered late on Friday in Alappuzha.

Central Kerala IG Vinson M Paul confirmed Paul was also accompanied by two criminals,Om Prakash and Rajesh Puthenpalam,both from the state capital. Another youth,Manu,who,too,had a criminal background,was with Paul.

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Narrating the incidents that led to the murder,the IG said the 22-member gang of contract killers from Kottayam was moving in four vehicles to executive a supari assignment in neighbouring Alappuzha district.

Incidentally,the Ford Endeavour driven by Paul hit a motorbike,but he sped away without stopping. Seeing the hit-and-run,a section of the gang chased the Endeavour in one of their vehicles and managed to waylay the businessman,about two km away. A scuffle followed between the gang and Paul was stabbed,according to the IG,who added that the killers were all drunk.

Manu was also injured,but the two others with Paul escaped with the Ford vehicle,which they later reportedly abandoned in the neighbouring district.