Sand mining murder: Four arrested, while one surrenders

They were identified as Krishnan (50), Murugaperumal (20), Manikumar (24) and Raja Ravi (25).

Meanwhile, a 27-year-old man surrendered in a Tirunelveli court. The man was identified as Amitabachan of Thamaraikulam, in Theni district.

He surrendered before Judge Ramadas at the Judicial Magistrate-I court. Following his surrender, Amitabachan was remanded in custody.

Police said one more accused in the incident, Murugan, is still absconding. The incident happened on May 7, when Jagadeesan Durai, a police constable attached to the Special Branch of Vijayanagaram police, went to nab illegal sand miners.

Jagadeesan had received an alert regarding illegal sand mining from Nambiyar river, close to Vijayanagaram. He alerted the local police station and proceeded to the spot alone. His body was found the next day with injury marks.

During their initial investigation, police suspected that Jagadeesan might have been murdered by three persons but later after a thorough probe, they revised the count to six persons.

A murder case was registered against them and police launched a hunt for the accused persons.

There have been complaints from locals that illegal sand mining was rampant along the Nambiyar river.