Thiruvananthapuram: The viral video of a man being beaten up by two people has helped Kerala police to take into custody one of the assaulters.
The incident happened in Chirayinkeezh on the outskirts of the state capital a fortnight ago, but it was on Sunday that the video was shared widely on social media and on local television, leading police to one of the culprits on Monday morning.
He has been identified as Vakkathuvila Ananthu, 26, who was found to have been involved in other cases, too, in the past. Police said a friend of Ananthu, who was involved in the attack, had also been identified and a search was on for him.
The incident happened when a bike rider objected to a dangerous public display of bike-riding skills on the busy road in Chirayinkeezh by Ananthu and his friend. The enraged duo then stopped their bike and thrashed the man even as dozens of onlookers remained mute spectators.
The video showed the duo mercilessly beating up the victim, hitting him on his head several times, pulling him down on the road and violently kicking him while he lay prone on the road.
The video shows several vehicles, including cars, passing by the site without trying to stop the attackers.
The victim has been identified as C. Sudheer, 44. Police had not initially taken up the case on the ground that no one had filed a complaint.
Following a massive outcry against the attackers on social media, police initiated action and swooped down on the alleged attacker at his home early Monday morning.
