Three including ICF staffer murdered within 24 hours in city

A 24-year-old, who tried to retrieve his mobile phone that was snatched by a gang when they had a squabble on Deepavali night, was stabbed to death by a group of three at Nochi Nagar in Mylapore on Mondaymorning.

C Karthik of Mayandi Colony in Royapettah had gone to Nochi Nagar to celebrate Deepavali with friends. There, an argument erupted between Karthik and one Boopalan, who allegedly snatched his phone. Karthik’s friends pacified him and asked him to come on Monday morning to get it back. When Karthik went to Boopalan’s house on Monday morning, the latter stabbed him with a knife and fled the spot. By the time the neighbours rushed him to Government Royapettah Hospital, Karthik had died. Mylapore have launched a hunt for Boopalan and his two friends.

On Deepavali night, Janakiraman (58) of Rajamangalam, an ICF staffer who was the treasurer of Anna Labour Union and held a key position at a cooperative society, was hacked to death in Peravallur. Police said Janakiraman was returning home with a friend when a bike-borne trio hit his vehicle. While his friend fled the spot, Janakiraman received blows in his head and died on the spot. Though he was rushed to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, he was declared brought dead. Peravallur police said they have launched a hunt for Om Prakash, a priest at a temple in the locality. Janakiraman confronted Om Prakash for being drunk performing pujas, said police, adding that they suspect this to be the reason for the murder.

Meanwhile in Padi Pudhu Nagar, a six-member gang of masked men chased and hacked a 27-year-old and left his friend with injuries in broad daylight on Monday. The deceased, Azhagu Murugan of JJ Nagar was an accused in the murder of one Sivalingam in 2014, said police. When Azhagu and his friend Purushothaman were on the way to mechanic shop in the neighbourhood, the gang members who reached there on two-wheeler stopped them on 11th Street. They surrounded the duo and started hacking them. Though the victims tried to run away, the gang chased Azhagu and murdered him. JJ Nagar police rushed Purushothaman to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, where Azhagu’s body has also been taken for autopsy. The police are checking CCTV footage from in and around the murder spot to identify the gang.