Shops and hotels in parts of Kancheepuram were closed on Monday as tension prevailed following the murder of a functionary of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi outside his office on Annai Indira Gandhi Salai the previous night. Police arrested a man, who had been in jail before, in connection with the incident.
Police said Ambedkar Valavan alias Narayanan, VCK Kancheepuram district deputy secretary, was hacked to death by a three-member gang which attacked him as he was speaking on the phone and standing near a temple. He died while being taken to a hospital in Chennai. Prabhu, who had been arrested in connection with a woman’s murder and was recently released on bail, was arrested following the incident after Valavan’s wife, Indra named him along with another person in a police complaint.
Valavan’s supporters staged a protest in front of the Government Hospital at Railway Road and demanded strict action against the accused. They initially refused to accept Valavan’s body after post-mortem and relented after nearly two hours following assurances from the police.
There was tension across Kancheepuram following the murder. Shops and hotels in major roads including Railway Road, Gandhi Road and Kamarajar Salai were closed. Schools were also given holiday after the lunch break.
Police sources claimed that stones were pelted at buildings near the murder spot and during the victim’s funeral procession. A two-wheeler was also set on fire.