Five people have been arrested in the Tirur area of Kerala's Malappuram district for allegedly plotting to murder a young man after his girlfriend conspired with her friends to eliminate him, ANI reported on November 12, citing police.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

The accused were identified by police as Safana, 19, a native of Pattambi, her friends Nadiya, 20, and Rabeeba, 25, both residents of North Annara in Tirur, and two male associates, Irshad, 28, and Asarudheen, 25, ANI reported. Malayalam outlet Kerala Life Online reported the same five names and said the two men are residents of Paravanna.

Source: Kerala Life Online

According to police, Safana allegedly conspired with her friends to get rid of her boyfriend. As part of the alleged plan, the accused abducted him, robbed him of his mobile phone and brutally assaulted him in an attempt to kill him, ANI reported. The young man, a resident of Pattambi, had reached Tirur around midnight in search of his girlfriend when he was attacked, and Malayalam reports said the investigation began after he complained to Tirur police.

Police arrested all five accused from Thazhepalam in the early hours of Wednesday in an operation led by Tirur Inspector Jaleel Karuthedath, ANI reported. Police said Irshad and Asarudheen were allegedly involved in several earlier criminal cases, including drug trafficking, attempted murder and assault, had previously been lodged in jail and were also facing cases under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) — all allegations at this stage.

All five accused were produced before the Tirur Magistrate Court and remanded to judicial custody, ANI and Kerala Life Online reported. Further investigation into the case is underway, police said.