Chennai: The streets of Singamperumal Koil near Chengalpet were witness to high drama, as a gang of seven chased an AIADMK councillor into a private nursing home, before hacking him to death with sickles. While the early-morning incident forced shops and schools to remain shut for the first half of the day, it became clear that the motive for the murder was simple — revenge. Kancheepuram police said Kumaravel (32) alias Velu, a history sheeter with 22 cases against him, was the prime accused in the murders of Muniraj (2009) and his brother Ramu (2006) — both of whom are believed to have strong DMK ties.
SP Manoharan told Express that two of the gang that killed him were Muniraj’s relatives. The seven men drove to Cuddalore and surrendered before a judicial magistrate there and have been lodged in the Cuddalore prison. “It is clearly a case of revenge. We will bring them back to Maraimalai Nagar to conduct a full inquiry on Wednesday,” he said. The men were identified as Balamurugan, Bharani, Kathiravan, Vimal, Rajendran, Murugan and Rajesh.
According to police, Velu, who had been elected as the ward-16 councillor in Kattankulathur in the recent local body elections, joined the party only recently. As he believed that his father had attained spirituality from god, he had undertaken a staunch fast to Hanuman, nine days ago. As a result, he had made a practice of bathing in the pond at the Anjaneyar temple at Hanumanthapuram every morning.
Around 7.15 am on Tuesday, after he had taken his dip and finished his prayers, he exited the temple with his aides and brother-in-law and started his bike. “Witnesses recalled how an SUV then smashed into his vehicle and knocked him down. Seven men got out and he took flight. His friends escaped, fearing for their lives. They chased Velu till he reached a small private nursing home nearby,” a police officer said. As Velu attempted to enter the hospital, he was apparently slashed by the sicklewielding group. He managed to enter the hospital, following which the blood-thirsty group surrounded Velu and hacked him to death.
When police found him around 8.15 am, they noticed that he had cuts on his neck, chest and torso, with his hands and head almost severed off. Police detailed how the staff and patients of the hospital had exited in panic, following which the murderers are believed to have calmly walked back to their vehicle and left the scene. Though police formed three teams to apprehend the culprits, their surrender, around 3 pm, saved them the trouble of combing the district. Sources said the hospital has conducted a puja to ward off the evil that the murder brought to their doors.
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