Meppad: In Meppadi, another member of the criminal group involved in the brutal beating and death of a young man at a resort has been apprehended. Muhammad Shafiq (28) was arrested by Meppadi police at his residence in Valiyaparambat, Karingalalthani, Malappuram, Parappanangadi, during an operation in Angamaly. Shafiq has close ties to gold smuggling networks and faces charges in the Arms Act case at Kalpatta station and the kidnapping case at Parapanangadi station. Three individuals were previously detained in connection with the incident, and two more arrests are pending. The tragic event occurred on the morning of July 20, 2023, when a young man from Koduvalli was abducted by a six-member group, subjected to severe beatings at the resort, and photographed in a humiliating manner. The assault, which involved tying the victim’s hands and feet with his head bowed, was motivated by animosity related to gold smuggling. Earlier arrests in the case included Shamir OT. Shameer (39) from Kasaragod, Nileswaram Ottayiyil house, M. Sajid (36) from Malappuram, Kondotti, Mancheri Ulayad, and Ahmed Shadil (26) from Wayanad, Ampileri. The police team, led by Meppadi SHO KS Ajesh and under the supervision of Wayanad District Police Chief Padam Singh IPS, successfully apprehended the accused with the efforts of senior civil police officers M.B. Bigesh, A.S. Prashant Kumar, and K. Vipin.