CHENNAI: The Saidapet police today arrested four friends and colleagues of the 23 year old painter, Johnson, who was murdered in the government teachers training college in Saidapet on Monday.
Acting on a complaint filed by the victim's brother 36 year old S Thirunavakarasu, the accused P ManiKandan, John Batcha, Santhakumaran and S Nethaji were arrested in Nandanam. The quartet are of the same age residents of the same locality Saidapet and are in the same profession as the victim, police said.
The victim and the accused used to often booze together and the alleged motive of the murder is believed to be a disagreement. According to a police officer, the friends had a disagreement after the victim advised the others not to indulge in vices like drinking and drug-use. His friends got enraged and allegedly murdered him, police said.
The victim was an accused in a few assault cases which were pending with the Saidapet police station. His body was sent for post-mortem in the Royappetah GH.