Malappuram (Keralam) | Two persons, including a poultry farm owner, have been arrested in connection with the death of two brothers who were electrocuted after coming into contact with an illegal live electric fence installed at the farm here recently, police said on Tuesday.

The accused have been identified as farm owner Sameer and his employee Sirajuddin, a migrant worker from Assam.

Police said their investigation found that an electric line had been illegally installed around the poultry farm at Akkaparambu near Keezhattur.

The case was registered under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide and Section 135(1)(e) of the Electricity Act for power theft.

According to police, Sameer had allegedly installed the electric fence to prevent animals from entering the poultry farm at night.

The victims, Sahir Navas (36) and Muhammad Faisal Murshid (32), residents of Vettathur in the district, had reached the farm to supply poultry feed when they came into contact with the live fence around 10.30 am on August 26, police said.

Though they were rushed to a nearby hospital, both succumbed to injuries.

Police said Sameer usually switched off the electric fence in the morning but allegedly forgot to do so on August 26, leading to the fatal incident.

Sameer had been absconding since the incident. He was taken into custody on Monday and his arrest was recorded subsequently, police said.

Sirajuddin was arrested on August 28, they added.