Gang rivalry in Kollam: key accused in Gym Santhosh murder case hacked to death in broad daylight

Aluva Athul, the key accused in the Gym Santhosh murder case, was hacked to death in broad daylight on Saturday (March 14, 2026). The incident occurred on a busy stretch of National Highway near Karunagappally, sending shock waves through the local community and passers-by.

According to preliminary police reports, Athul was travelling in a car with a companion when they were intercepted by a gang. He was returning from the police station after signing his bail attendance. The assailants in another vehicle chased him and purposefully rammed his car, forcing it into a large pit before jumping out and attacking Athul with sharp weapons. The victim sustained fatal injuries and reportedly died on the spot. His companion, who also suffered injuries in the attack, has been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The Karunagappally police suspect the murder to be a contract killing or a retaliatory strike linked to the murder of Gym Santhosh, a local fitness trainer. Athul had recently been released on bail in connection with the case, and investigators suspect that rival gang members had been monitoring his movements for an opportunity to strike. The audacity of the attack, carried out on a major highway in full view of commuters, has raised serious concerns regarding public safety and the resurgence of gang-related feuds in the district.

Following the incident, a high-level police team reached the spot to collect forensic evidence and record statements from eyewitnesses. The police are currently reviewing CCTV footage from various establishments along the Kollam-Alappuzha stretch to track the vehicle used by the attackers.