VILLUPURAM: Tension gripped Kandampakkam village near Villupuram, after the murder of a Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) man. The 45-year-old Murugan was murdered while he was sleeping outside his house on Thursday night.
When the news of the murder reached the relatives, they burned the house of two persons, whom they suspect had been involved in the crime. Police pickets were deployed in the village to prevent any untoward incident.
Police said Murugan, living with his wife and five sons in Kandampakkam village, was sleeping outside the house on Thursday night as it was hot inside. On Friday morning, his wife Veerammal came out and found Murugan lying dead in a pool of blood. His body bore several cut injuries.
On hearing her cries, the neighbours gathered at the spot and alerted the Villupuram taluk police. The police tried to take the body for autopsy. But, Murugan’s relatives and some PMK men didn’t let them and blocked the ambulance. They alleged that they suspect one Radhakrishnan of the same village had committed the murder and demanded his arrest.
Police tried to pacify them, but to no avail. Later, Villupuram DSP Seetharaman arrived and assured them that they would take action soon. Based on this, they let the officials take the body.
Meanwhile, Murugan’s relatives torched the huts of two persons - Kannan and Veerabathiran, both associates of Radhakrishnan.
Villupuram taluk police registered a case of murder and began investigations. Police security arrangements were made to quell the situation, but, in spite of the posse of police, about 50 persons went to the District SP office to give petition demanding to arrest the murderers.
At that time, Murugan’s younger brother Jayabal doused himself in kerosene and attempted to set himself afire. However, police officials stopped him.
The SP then informed them that they have arrested two suspects and promised to solve the case soon.
A police source said that Murugan’s younger brother Arumugam, who was a lawyer and union secretary of PMK, was murdered in 2006 for alerting the police about bootlegging. Police had registered case against 14 persons, including Radhakrishnan in connection with the murder. He later came out on bail. The trial of the case has been on in the Tindivanam court. Murugan was the main witness in the case and he was supposed to appear before the court for hearing on Monday.
Police suspect Radhakrishnan and his associates might have carried out the murder to prevent him from giving statement in the court. Sources said Radhakrishnan had gone absconding.