Conductor murder: Cops conduct evidence collection with accused

Kochi: Kalamassery police investigating the murder of a bus conductor at HMT Junction on Saturday have found that the attacker, Minoop Biju, 30, arrived in Kochi from Bengaluru two days before the crime.Police recorded the arrest of Biju, and he was remanded in judicial custody on Sunday. Police said Biju, hailing from Kalamassery Glass Factory Colony, was a history-sheeter. The victim, Anish Peter, 34, was stabbed in front of passengers when the bus stopped at HMT Junction for passengers to disembark. Peter was the conductor of the bus named Asthra, operated by Hidayath Group on Kakkanad–Medical College–Aluva route.Police said it was suspicion and jealousy about his partner having a friendship with the conductor that led the accused to commit the crime. According to police, the accused had forcefully taken his partner's phone before he left for Bengaluru. It is from the phone that he came to know about their friendship, said police.On Sunday, police held evidence collection along with Biju. He was taken to his house and the area near Muttar river where he discarded the knife.Peter's body was handed over to his relatives after postmortem.