Two murders in north Chennai as gangs attack complainants

In the first case, a four-member gang hacked a 60-year-old man to death on Friday night near Kasimedu bridge. The deceased, Sori Kuppan of Indira Nagar, was a DMK functionary and president of Mechanised Boat Owners’ association. He has cases pending against him, said the police.

On information, the Fishing Harbour police retrieved his body and sent it for autopsy.

Investigation revealed that Sori Kuppan had opposed to ganja peddling in his neighbourhood by one ‘Attu’ Ramesh. As Ramesh continued to peddle ganja despite warnings, Kuppan tipped-off the police, which is suspected to have led to the murder, officials said.

The police arrested Ramesh the same night and remanded him in judicial custody on Saturday. A hunt has been launched for the absconding suspects, identified as Sampath, Rakesh and Santhosh.

Six held for murder in Otteri

In another murder reported a few hours later in Otteri, a 32-year-old man was hacked to death in front of his mother-in-law’s house. The deceased, Dhanraj (32) of Perambur, was an auto driver. His brothers-in-law – Vigneshkumar, Rajeshkumar and Yogeshkumar – who were allegedly selling illicit liquor had enmity with a group that demanded ‘mamool’ from them.

The trio lodged an oral complaint about the men to Otteri police. The rival gang came to know about it and reached their house on three bikes around 9 pm when the brothers were not there. The gang attacked Dhanraj’s wife with a knife. After she ran into the house with her parents for safety, they hacked Dhanraj who was standing outside, andfled the spot.

Dhanraj was rushed to Stanley Government Hospital, but he died without responding to treatment around 11.30 pm.

The Otteri police secured six suspects – K Samuel (20), A Paul Praveen (26), R Vicky (21), K Thilakraj (23) and B Ajay (19) of Perambur, and R Vinoth (24) of Kilpauk, who were remanded in judicial custody. A hunt has been launched for the remaining accused.