CHENNAI: A 23-year-old painter, accused in a few assault cases pending with the Saidapet police, was hacked to death in the Government Teachers’ Training College for Women, on Monday.
Police said Johnson, resident of Jothimma Nagar, Saidapet, was riding his two-wheeler when a gang on bikes surrounded and hacked him to death in full public view. The victim was returning after dropping his girlfriend near the Institute of Advanced Study in Education, (Government College of Education) Saidapet, when he was attacked.
According to police, Johnson abandoned his two-wheeler and ran towards the playground but was followed by the gang of at least three who attacked him with swords and sickles. After alerted by passersby, Saidapet police rushed to the scene and recovered the body.
Sources said Johnson had mended his ways and was not involved in any assault cases in the past two years. He was attending work regularly and was in a relationship with a girl. “We believe the assailants were known to him. We are also trying to find out whether his relationship with the girl was the reason for the attack,” police said.
A case was registered and the body was moved to Government Royapettah Hospital for autopsy.