CHENNAI: A middle aged tendercoconut seller was murdered by a two-member gang in Chetpet after he allegedly failed to payback money borrowed from one of the assailants.
The deceased was identified as Venu, (50) a resident of Karukathamman Street in Chetpet and ran a tender coconut shop at Mayor Ramanathan Road in the same locality.
According to police officials, the two-member gang led by Babu, said to be involved in several cases in the city, visited Venu’s shop and demanded immediate repayment of loan, which he had borrowed a few months ago.
But Venu paid little attention to Babu’s demand and asked him to push off from the shop area since it was his business-time.
Irked with the cold response, a minor scuffle broke out and Venu reportedly threatened Babu and his friends with dire consequences if they insisted about the borrowed money.
Irritated with the reply, Babu took the sickle used to chop tender-coconut and attacked Venu. When Venu started running for his life, the gang chased him for few metres and attacked him again. When he fell-down unconscious, the gang fled the scene. Though Venu was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, he succumbed to his injuries.
Meanwhile, the Kilpauk police team led by Assistant Commissioner C Rajamani have nabbed Sanjay, the second assailant of the Babu gang near Choolaimedu. The police are expected to produce him before a magistrate on Tuesday.
They have also intensified their search for the other accomplice, Babu.