CHENNAI / VILLUPURAM: Three persons, including a notorious history-sheeter from Madurai, involved in the attack on a 57-year-old special sub-inspector, were arrested after a hot chase by the Villupuram police near Thiruvennainallur.
The three were part of a four-member gang, who attacked the SSI attached to Tambaram Crime Branch Wing, after he warned them against driving rashly on Friday evening.
The SSI, Sathyamoorthy, who was in civil dress, was riding his two-wheeler on Mudichur road, when he spotted the gang driving their car rashly. He signalled them to be mindful of other road users.
Enraged, they pulled over the car. All four, who were under the influence of alcohol, alighted and started verbally abusing him. Though, Sathyamoorthy informed them that he was a cop, the quartet thrashed him in full public view.
After inflicting multiple injuries on the SSI, the gang sped away in their car. Passers-by rushed Sathyamoorthy to a hospital where he is being treated for head and neck injuries.
Based on the inputs from the injured cop and CCTV images, the Tambaram police tracked the vehicle and found that it was registered in Madurai. The officials alerted the police stations in Kancheepuram, Villupuram and other neighbouring districts and began a search.
Meanwhile, the Villupuram highway patrol team spotted the vehicle near Vikravandi toll gate. After a 25-km chase, they managed to intercept the car near Ulundurpet. The officials nabbed three while one managed to flee.
The arrested were identified as Murugan (31), his brother Manikandan, both from Madurai, Ramachandran, of Ramanathapuram. Murugan is an accused in 31 cases, including five murder, in his hometown.
The gang had come to Chennai to attend a ceremony in Tambaram. They also caused a flutter in a theatre on Friday evening as they were denied entry to them for being drunk.
The three were then taken to the Thirunavalur police station and later handed over to Chennai city police. The hunt for the fourth accused is on.