A 45-year-old Congress functionary was hacked to death near Adhanakottai in broad daylight on Saturday. The incident sparked a road roko by the Congress workers, who demanded immediate police action and arrest of the culprits involved.
According to sources, Anandharaj of Ganapathypuram, the deputy secretary of the district Congress committee, was a former district councillor and former village panchayat president of Ganapathypuram in Gandharvakottai union.
On Saturday afternoon, Anandharaj was on his way to his agricultural field located in Perugalur, near Adhanakottai in his two wheeler. On the way, he was intercepted by a few miscreants who allegedly killed him.
Passers-by found the dead body and raised an alarm. On information, the police of Adhanakotti station and villagers of Ganapathypuram gathered on the spot. The body was sent to the government hospital at Pudukkottai for autopsy.
Around 4 pm, about 200 villagers gathered in front of the government hospital and blocked vehicular traffic at the hospital signal. They were seeking immediate police action against the assailants. On information, Tamilchandran, SP of the district police and other revenue authorities rushed to the spot and held talks with protesters. Later, they dispersed following police assurance that appropriate action would be taken at the earliest. The road blockade lasted for about 30 minutes and traffic was diverted. Later, the body was taken to Ganapathypuram for the last rites following the autopsy. In the government hospital, all the party cadre paid their tribute to the departed functionary.