History-sheeter hacked to death by friends in Madurai
Madurai: A 26-year-old history-sheeter was hacked to death by a gang near Samayanallur bus stand in Madurai district on Sunday night. Police arrested five men within 12 hours of the murder. Surya had gone with friends to consume alcohol at around 11.30pm, according to police. During the gathering, he reportedly picked up a quarrel with Ashwin , 23. Police arrested five accused identified as Ajay, 26; Vishnu, 24, Selvakumar, 25, Ashwin and Santhuru alias Kuttimani, 20. A preliminary probe revealed that Surya had more than 10 criminal cases, including murder, robbery and assault, pending against him in various city and suburban police stations. He was recently arrested by the police by execution of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) and produced in court on October 26.
He died on the spot due to the injuries.
Police said the accused were friends of the victim and the murder was triggered by a drunken altercation. The argument escalated, following which Ashwin and his associates allegedly attacked Surya with wooden logs and iron rods. The assailants later disfigured his face and fled. Subsequently, he was given bail.
Based on a complaint lodged by Surya’s wife, Jansi, Samayanallur police registered a murder case and shifted the body to the Government Rajaji Hospital for postmortem examination. Investigators, along with forensic experts, fingerprint specialists and sniffer dogs, were pressed into service to collect evidence from the crime scene. All five accused were remanded in judicial custody. Further investigation is underway.