Witness in Neyyattinkara Sanal case says he has been receiving threats

Mahin, a hotel owner in Kodangavila, said that a group of 4 visited his house on Thursday and issued communal threats, after he gave his statement to the crime branch officials.

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Five days after the death of Sanal Kumar, a 32-year-old from Neyyattinkara who was pushed by DySP B Harikumar before a moving car, a witness in the case has come out stating that he has been receiving death threats from local groups. Mahin, the owner of Sultana Fast Foods in Kodangavila, had given his statement to crime branch officials when they had visited his hotel on Thursday.

“The crime branch officers came to my shop on Thursday and a lot of people had assembled there. They were giving their statements on what had happened. I had also given my statement then,” he said. At 7.30 pm the same day, a group of four people came to his house and issued threats, the 55-year-old says.

“They issued some communal threats by talking about my faith. They said that ‘Muslims were given a free hand in this area and that should be curbed.’ They also referred to something about me changing my statements while talking to the officers,” he told TNM.

On Friday afternoon, another man visited their hotel when he was away and tried to intimidate his wife and staff, following which they closed the shop out of fear, he added

“This man entered the hotel and loitered around and tried to intimidate the people. After this we closed the shop,” he added.

The residents along with Mahin and wife have filed a complaint with the Neyyattinkara station. They also informed the media and have decided to hold a meeting and open the shop properly from tomorrow.

“We know who is behind this but we don’t want to reveal any names now. If I am troubled further, I will one by one give out all the names,” Mahin said.

On Saturday evening, the Kodangavila residents association along with the shop owners association have opened the shutters of Sultana Fast Foods to support Mahin.

“All the residents are with me and the police have given me a number to call in case I face more issues,” he added.

Sanal Kumar was run over by a moving car following a scuffle with DySP Harikumar, when the DySP pushed him. Harikumar has been absconding since, and the police have not managed to arrest him so far.