A 45-year-old man named Gnanavel was shot dead while his friend Raghu was seriously injured (Visuals credit: PTI)
The accused, Poovarasan, 30, is a resident of the same area and allegedly had a previous dispute with Gnanavel. More than 10 criminal cases, including murder, robbery and chain-snatching cases, are pending against him, according to police. Following the incident, Gudiyatham Taluk Police registered a case and launched a search, eventually arresting Poovarasan near Sengundram.
Police said Gnanavel and Raghu were standing near the Sengundram bus stand and talking when Poovarasan allegedly arrived with a concealed country-made firearm and opened fire at them. During interrogation, police took the accused to a hilly area in Sengundram to recover the country-made firearm and ammunition allegedly used in the murder. During the operation, Poovarasan allegedly attacked sub-inspector Raja and attempted to escape from police custody. Police personnel opened fire to prevent his escape, hitting him in the right leg. Sub-inspector Raja sustained an injury to his left hand during the attack. Meanwhile, Gnanavel’s relatives gathered in large numbers at the hospital following the murder, creating a tense situation. Additional police personnel were deployed to maintain security. The murder and the subsequent firing during the police operation have triggered tension in and around Gudiyatham.
The accused was later shot in the leg after allegedly attacking a police sub-inspector and attempting to escape during a weapon-recovery operation, police said on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported.