Pile of bones found; serial killer admits to more murders

The locations were revealed by the killer in his confession. He duped the victims in the name of getting them a treasure at Krishnasamudram in Tiruchy. 

Sources said, T Sappani of Krishnasamudram in Tiruchy was arrested on Sept 28 for murdering Thangathurai (34), a businessman from Vengur. Sappani shocked the cops by confessing to the killing of seven more persons, including his father Thekkan (75) and AIADMK councillor S Kumaresan (47) from Balakrishnanpatti Town Panchayat in Uppilapuram.

According to the police, the modus operandi of the accused Sappani was to befriend his victims who possess money or jewels and take them to the Sekkuparai Ayyanar temple close to a canal. He then blindfolded them and ask them to worship the idol. He reportedly attacked on the head and killed them. Later he chopped the bodies and buried them. Sometimes, he had used to sedate his victims as a few empty syringes were also found on the spot.

On Saturday, the exhumation commenced in the presence of Tiruverumbur Tahsildhar Rangarajan and ASP Kalaiselvan. The process started from the Methanachiamman temple near the canal and found the remains of Sathyanathan (50), a farmer who went missing in February. Subsequently, the team collected the remains of AIADMK councillor Kumaresan from near Sekkuparai Ayyanar temple. 

Then the team dug the spot at Santhana Karuppu Koil area where they collected the remains of Vijay Victor (27) who went missing two years back. While digging at Ottankuchi Manthoppu, the remains of Sappani’s father Thekkan were found and it was confirmed by Thekkan’s wife and Sappani’s mother. Later, remains of the senior citizen Gokila (70) was collected at Mahamani Koil. Post-mortem was done on the spot by a team of doctors led by Dr Saravanan. Samples were collector for further tests. 

Since most of the bodies were found close to the temples and Sappani had an association with a temple priest Chellaiah and another unidentified priest from Erwadi, who was an adept in black magic, police suspect it to be a case of human sacrifice. He also confessed to have performed pujas in all these temples.

While the exhuming process was on, a woman identified as Dhanalakshmi (43) from Thondaimanpatti near Krishnasamudram came to the spot and said that her husband Shanmugam (55) went missing since 2013 and she claimed that her husband was seen talking with Sappani. 

Meanwhile the locals claim that three girls aged between 13 and 18 from a same family were found dead last year in Sevanthankulam. Since the custody of Sappani ends by Sunday, the police are planning to extend his custody for two more days until all the bodies are exhumed.