Days after 23-year-old Kevin Joseph was abducted and later killed allegedly by his wife Neenu's family, her brother and father were taken into custody by the Kerala police on Tuesday afternoon.
Neenu's brother Shanu Chacko is the first accused in the case, while their father Chacko was made the 14th accused earlier on Tuesday.
Kannur Superintendent of Police G Sivavikram confirmed to TNM that the father and son were in their custody. However, the top police official did not divulge any more details.
"Both Shanu and his father Chacko are in our custody now. They are being taken to the court. It is not appropriate for me to divulge further details at this point," the SP said.
According to Malayalam media reports, Shanu and his father Chacko reportedly surrendered at the Karikkottakary police station near Iritty in Kannur district in the afternoon.
The police had earlier said that Shanu, who they believe planned the entire crime by abducting Kevin from his residence in Kottayam in an Innova car, and subsequently killing him, could have fled to Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu.
While Neenu's parents were reportedly in Kottayam district for the past two days, television reports said on Tuesday that they could not be located.
Shanu, who works in the Middle East, came to India on Saturday, after learning about his sister Neenu's wedding to Kevin, a Dalit Christian. While Neenu's father is a Christian and mother a Muslim, the family were against Neenu's relationship with Kevin and did not agree to get them married.
Meanwhile, Kevin's post mortem procedures were conducted at Kottayam Medical College Hospital on Tuesday, even as the district observed a hartal.
By 12 pm, his body was taken to his house, even as a huge crowd gathered to see his body. Following this, the body was taken to a church. His last rites are expected to be conducted by 3.30 pm on Tuesday.
According to the police, there are 14 people who are accused of abducting and murdering Kevin. The police have already arrested 3 persons for the crime.