Nellikuzhi murder: SIT completes evidence collection in North India
The Hindu
Accused allegedly bought the pistol used for killing dental student from Bihar
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of a dental student and the suicide of her alleged murderer at Nellikuzhi near Kothamangalam town has returned after a five-day exhaustive evidence collection trip in North India.
The team had taken Adithyan, friend and business partner of the prime accused Rakhil, to Patna and Munger in Bihar and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Adithyan has been accused of accompanying Rakhil to Bihar to buy the pistol with which the alleged crime was committed.
Adithyan has reportedly claimed that Rakhil had misled him into believing that the trip was to buy materials for interior decoration and came to know about the real motive only after reaching there. Rakhil had allegedly introduced him to Maneesh Kumar, a taxi driver and the alleged intermediary for buying the pistol.
Although Karnataka is considered a low leprosy endemic State, the prevalence rate in three districts — Koppal, Vijayanagara, and Ballari — continues to be higher than the national average of 0.6%. Overall, the State has recorded a prevalence rate of 0.33% in 2023–2024. January 30 is observed as National Leprosy Eradication Day.