Kollam, March 14 (NationPress) In a shocking incident, a feared gangster recently released on bail in a high-profile murder case was brutally hacked to death during a bold daylight assault on the national highway in Karunagappally, located in Kerala's Kollam district, on Saturday. Authorities suspect this act is part of an ongoing violent gang feud.

The deceased, Aluva Atul, was the main suspect in the murder of Gym Santhosh and was attacked while he was returning from the Karunagappally police station, where he had to report as part of his bail agreement.

The attack took place around 11 a.m., close to a petrol station at Puthiyakavu.

Police reports indicate that a group in a Haryana-registered Innova chased Atul's vehicle and collided with it from behind.

This collision caused Atul's car to veer into a trench created for the ongoing national highway construction.

CCTV footage later revealed four men exiting the Innova, armed with machetes and other lethal weapons.

They forcibly pulled Atul from his vehicle and viciously attacked him in broad daylight on the busy highway before fleeing the scene.

Another individual traveling with Atul, identified as Manu, who is also implicated in the Santhosh murder case, suffered injuries during the assault.

Atul was quickly transported to the hospital in critical condition but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

Authorities believe this murder is the climax of a long-standing feud between rival gangs operating in the Karunagappally–Ochira area.

Initial investigations suggest that the assailants were affiliated with Gym Santhosh and were seeking retribution for his death.

Santhosh, a well-known but locally influential gangster often referred to as a “gentleman goon,” was brutally killed inside his house on March 27, 2025.

Reports indicate that a gang led by Atul had previously cut off electricity to Santhosh's house, used explosives to instigate fear, and murdered him in front of his mother.

Despite police filing charges related to the case, Atul had recently managed to secure bail, which reportedly provoked Santhosh’s supporters.

Investigators suspect that the attackers had been monitoring Atul's movements and meticulously planned the ambush, aware of his scheduled visit to the police station.

This dramatic murder, executed in broad daylight under the gaze of security cameras and near the police station, has instilled fear among local residents.

Law enforcement has increased security measures throughout the Kollam district and initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators.

Officials are currently reviewing CCTV footage and investigating potential connections to organized crime networks and the drug trade, which may be exacerbating gang conflicts in the area.