Gunman at UAE consulate in Kerala tries to end life

■ Smuggling accused was in touch with cop

In a fresh twist in Kerala gold smuggling case, the gunman posted at UAE consulate in Thiurvanan-thapuram was found near his house with a slashed wrist following a suicide bid on Friday.

Jayaghosh, who was deputed by the Kerala police at the UAE consulate, went missing from his home on Friday soon after his links with one of the accused in the gold smuggling case surfaced. Key accused Swapna Suresh had called the gunman over his phone several times.

The calls were reportedly made during the seiz-ure of smuggled gold at the Thiruvananthapuram international airport on July 5.

Jayaghosh with his wrist bleeding profusely, was found lying about 500 mtrs from his home in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. The cop was rushed to hospital immediately.

The call records of key accused Swapna Suresh had revealed that she had called Jayaghosh. His relatives said the gunman was under tremendous stress after two persons threatened him recently. They said the cop had done nothing wrong.

On Thursday, Jayaghosh left home at 7 pm after receiving a call on his phone. As he didn’t return till late night, his wife lodged a complaint with Thumba police station and informed the police that he was facing threats from certain quarters.

The state police chief has, meanwhile, directed the local police to provide security to the gunman.

Jayaghosh was deployed as a gunman at the UAE Consul General for the past three years. On Thursday he returned his service revolver to the Armed Reserve Camp, after Consul General returned to UAE. Rashid Khamis Al-Shameli, an attaché with the consulate was in charge .

The diplomatic baggage containing the gold was addressed to him.