Shock across state, relatives stage protest

Tension mounted along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border after the SI was allegedly gunned down by unidentified miscreants. The gruesome incident occurred around 9.30 pm on Wednesday while the ill-fated SI was engaged in duty at a check-post, sources said. Protest erupted since Thursday morning at Marthandam after the victim’s relatives and cadre of various political parties raised slogans demanding immediate arrest of the accused and appealed to the state government to provide adequate compensation to the bereaved family. In the wake of such an incident, security force was adequately deployed at check-posts along the inter-state borders and various locations, the sources said.

Tamil Nadu Director-General of Police JK. Tripathy inspected the crime spot and consoled the bereaved family. According to Kanniyakumari Superintendent of Police N. Sreenath, thevictim was deputed at the check-post on Market road in Kaliyakkavilai at 8 pm on Wednesday. It was unfortunate that the SI was indiscriminately shot dead.

After inquiring, the SP said the motive behind the killing is yet to be known. The assailants could have fired three shots on him at close range. The Kaliyakkavilai police have filed a case in connection with the incident under Section -302 (murder) of the IPC and under the Arms Act.

The 1986 batch police personnel, Wilson was employed at Kaliyakkavilai station since July 1, 2018. He is survived by his wife and two daughters aged 27 and 26. South Zone Inspector-General KP. Shanmuga Rajeswaran, when contacted, said the investigation team had secured the CCTV footage that showed two persons moving at the scene of crime. The corpse bore four bullet wounds and the miscreants would have opened four rounds of fire targeting the special SI, who’s a man of good character. Such an awful crime could have done either by religious fundamentalists or smugglers and the police were investigating that angle too.

The police released sketches of the two suspects, including Thofeeq and Mohammed Shameem, behind the killing, the IG said. Further, the IG said eight special teams have been formed to nab the culprits.

The body was taken to Kanniyakumari Government Medical College Hospital at Asaripallam, where the post-mortem was done. The sub-inspector’s last rites were performed with state honours at his native place in Marthandam. During the funeral ceremony, a 21-gun salute was given, the sources said.