KOLLAM: A 22-year-old man was found lying dead on the road side at Puthurmukku junction, near Kottarakara, on Tuesday morning. Police identified him as Ratheesh who resided not far from where the body was found.
The body, lying by a shrubbery, was first noticed by the Highway Police.
The Kottarakara police arrived on the scene and removed the body to the Kottarakara Taluk Hospital.
The body had bruises all over the back. The police took it to be a murder.
They took five men into custody for interrogations in connection with the incident.
The police said that on Monday night there was a complaint that a group of youngsters were forcibly stopping passing vehicles at Puthurmukku and demanding contributions towards some fund.
The police chased them away. Those taken into custody belonged to that group.
The body of Ratheesh was handed over to relatives after the autopsy at the Kottarakara Taluk Hospital.
The Kottarakara police have registered a case.