Kochi, April 28 -- Nine people were taken into custody in Kozhikode district on Sunday in connection with the alleged lynching of a 20-year-old man at Chevayur the previous day, police said.

Sooraj Ambalakkandy, who worked at a car service centre, succumbed to injuries after he was physical assaulted by a group of people on late Saturday night, ACP (Medical College sub-division) A Umesh said, adding that the autopsy report indicated that he died of asphyxiation and injuries to the neck.

Among those who are in police custody include Ambalakkandy's neighbour Manoj and his sons Ajay and Vijay, considered to be the key suspects who allegedly initiated and took part in the assault on Saturday, the officer said.

The attack was due to a dispu...