In an attempt to prevent brutal murderers in the southern districts, the police on Monday banned the manufacture of veecharuval (machete) and double-edged knives at Tirupachethi village in Sivagangai district.
Justifying the ban, Manamadurai DSP S Velladurai told Express that rowdy gangs and people involve in communal clashes in the southern district were found to have used veecharuval. He also made it clear that the police did not ban the use of iron tools like rods and sickles, which are used for agricultural purposes.
“Those handling Veecharuval require less force, but with one sweep, it would cause deep injuries in the body resulting in the death of the person,” said Velladurai, explaining the nature of the weapon. Investigations into several murder cases in the southern districts pointed at the use of the veecharuval. Incidentally, the police also found many veecharuvals at the spot where Sub-Inspector Alwin Sudan was murdered by a mob near Tiruppachethi village in Oct 2012, said a police source.
“Traditionally, a particular community in the village had been producing this veecharuval. Weighing not more than two kilograms, veecharuvals are sold for Rs 2,000 a piece. If it is specially designed, it would cost more,” said the police officer. He said that ban order was issued to ten manufacturing units involved in the production of machetes.