Six-member gang held for murder bid in Theni

The arrest was made on Monday and the accused were sent to judicial custody on the same night, sources said on Tuesday.

A team of police led by Bodi Town Inspector of Police Venkatachalapthy, while being engaged in night patrol, examined a car after intercepting it upon suspicion. Subsequently, the team found four daggers in the vehicle and nabbed the passngers.

Inquiries revealed that the gang led by S Veeraiah from Thodaneri near here hatched a plot to murder S. Jayapal (24) residing in Bodimettu. The gang was reportedly on their way to execute their plan when the police intercepted them.

Theni Superintendent of Police (SP) V Baskaran, when contacted, said Jayapal-the deceased victim-fell in love with Tamilselvi, daughter of Veeraiah, the key accused, while studying in Samayanallur three years ago and married her. The couple settled down in Bodimettu. However, Tamilselvi was found dead in the house at Bodimettu on January 1 this year. At the time of her death, she was pregnant.

The Bodi Town police had initially filed a case following her death under Section 174 of the CrPC and later altered it under Section 304 of the IPC and an RDO inquiry was ordered subsequently.

Inquiries revealed that Jayapal harassed his wife Tamilselvi, who then allegedly committed suicide. Jayapal was then arrested in connection with Tamilselvi’s death. Irked over this, Veeraiah hatched the murder plot to finish off Jayapal.

After learning the whereabouts of Jayapal, who was let off on bail recently, Veeraiah along with five others made the plot to murder him, SP Baskaran said.

The other arrested have been identified as S Jegan (29), M Ganesan (24), A Revanth (24), S Kumaravel (27) and V. Nagamani (29).