Kochi, Feb 23: The prime accused in the abduction and assault of a popular Malayali actress, 'Pulsar' Suni and his accomplice VP Vijeesh, were taken into custody as they entered a local court building to surrender today in Ernakulam, six days after the incident created a nationwide outrage.
"We have taken them into custody. We had deployed our men in the city. They managed to get them," Ernakulam Range I G P Vijayan told PTI.
Visuals aired by news channels showed the duo being forcefully taken into custody by police as they were about to enter the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court building to surrender at around 1.10 PM today at lunch break.
Advocates of the accused made a vain bid to prevent police from entering the building and taking them into custody. They were later taken to Aluva police club for questioning.
The lawyers charged the police with forcefully taking their clients into custody from the court room itself.
Police allegedly entered the courtroom wearing helmets.
The developments come a day after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asserted that every effort was being made to trace the key accused in the abduction and assault of the actress.
Police had earlier arrested four accused in the case.
"Police action has been fruitful and government views the matter seriously," Vijayan, who also holds the Home portfolio, had told reporters yesterday.
Opposition parties had alleged that the delay in arresting the culprits was a direct indication of the protection they were receiving by the ruling dispensation.
The actress was allegedly sexually assaulted inside her car for two hoursby the accused, who had forced their way into the vehicle and later escaped in a busy area in Kochi.
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