Extradition delay of murder accused invites local ireKANNUR: The action committee formed by the people of Kattampally in Kannur seeking the arrest of the accused in the Ramya murder case has alleged that the authorities are not serious about the extradition of the accused, who is in now in Interpole custody in Sharjah.

"Though the Interpol had reportedly taken Shammi Kumar, who allegedly killed his wife Ramya, into custody on May 31, the police here say that they got the information only on June 21, thus delaying the extradition process," said, P Ramesh babu,  chairman of the action committee.

The action committee said if authorities do not submit the required documents to the Interpol through the ministry of external affairs in time, the accused might go scot-free.

"Since the accused has been in the Interpol custody for one month, the police have requested them to extend the custody by another 10 days, but no one is sure whether if request would be accepted," said Ramesh.

According to the action committee if the  state government, the MEA and the police had acted vigilantly, Shammi Kumar

 could have been extradited long back.

the action committee has decided to intensify its agitation and, as part of this, the committee has called a meeting on Tuesday, said Ramesh Babu. He said if anybody is helping the accused by delaying the extradition process, strict action should be taken against such people.

Meanwhile, the police said they have got a warrant issued by the judicial first class magistrate court, Payyannur and the process to get the accused extradited is going on.

It was on January 22, 2010 that the body of Ramya, a resident of Kattampally, was found hanging from the ceiling of a hotel room where the couple along with their daughter Keerthana had checked in two days back.

However, the police could not arrest Shammi Kumar as he escaped to Sharjah immediately after the murder.