KOCHI: The Ernakulam rural police have taken 28 persons in preventive custody as part of efforts to nab the main accused in the murder of SFI leader Abhimanyu M at the Maharaja’s College in Kochi. The preventive arrests were made on Friday following overnight raids in various parts of Ernakulam district.The arrested persons are all PFI/SDPI sympathisers and most of them are from the Aluva police circle. The arrests were made under Section 151 (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences) of the CrPC.Police sources said the arrests were made to prevent the suspects in the murder case from getting any type of assistance. Police also hope to track down the absconding accused by questioning those who have been arrested following the raids.Meanwhile, DGP Loknath Behera said in Kochi that the department was yet to decide on invoking UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) in the case. He said the department would take a decision on it once all the accused are arrested and further evidence is collected.Officers said that police have extended the probe into other states and the accused would soon be nabbed.Police are yet to arrest the prime accused in the case, including Mohammed J I, a student of Maharaja’s College and the first accused in the case. Nine persons have so far been arrested in connection with the crime. Two other persons who might be connected with the murder were taken into custody from Aroor by the Alappuzha police on Thursday. However, those directly involved in the crime are still on the run.

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