NIA to conduct broader probe into SSI’s killing

The SSI was gunned down allegedly by Y Thoufeeq and A Abdul Sameem, while he was on duty at Kaliyakkavilai check-post along the Tamil Nadu- Kerala border in the night of January 8.

The duo was arrested for their involvement in the killing after the police reviewed the CCTV footages that showed them running away from the scene of crime. After the accused went into hiding, Udupi police in Karnataka on January 14 nabbed the duo and both were produced before the court in Kanniyakumari district.

After being arrested and jailed, the police took the two accused for a 10-day custodial interrogation from January 21, after producing them before the Kanniyakumari District Principal Sessions Court, Nagercoil.

During the custodial interrogation, the Kanniyakumari police achieved a major breakthrough in the investigation after recovering a pistol, knife and dresses worn by them while committing such a grave crime. Such recoveries were made in various parts of Kerala when the foundation for the investigation was made by the Kanniyakumari police, sources said.

According to Kanniyakumari Superintendent of Police N Shreenath, the NIA would take over probe in the case. However, the Kanniyakumari police are yet to receive any order in this regard.

Further, the sources said the NIA in Kochi had initially filed an FIR on Saturday night in connection with the case. But, the ballistic experts are still examining the recovered weapons such as pistol with five rounds of bullets, a bullet removed from the body of Wilson and two other bullets from the crime scene and a bloodstained knife that were allegedly used by the accused. Their test report is awaited.

Moreover, the bloodstained shirts recovered from Vatakara in Kerala were also sent for forensic analysis and its report is also awaited. Formal procedures, including letter correspondence from the NIA Special court to the Kanniyakumari District Court and the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police to the Kanniyakumari SP need to be gone through before taking over the probe, the sources informed.