The special teams of the Coimbatore Rural Police have arrested seven persons in connection with the gruesome murder of an aged couple at Somanur and a dacoity reported at Karumathampatti.
On April 8, N. Rayappa Gounder (87) and his wife Chinnammal (80) were found murdered in front of their houses and properties were looted.
While the Chinnammal was strangled to death, Rayappa Gounder was found dead lying in a pool of blood due assault using deadly weapons.
The burglars had decamped with 10.5 sovereigns of gold jewellery and cash of Rs 18,200.
Inspector-General of Police, West Zone, P. Sivanandi and DIG of Police, Coimbatore Range, B. Balanaga Devi formed special teams.
The teams under the supervision of Superintendent of Police, Tirupur (holding additional charge of Coimbatore), A. Arun comprising Deputy Superintendent of Police, R. Mutharasu and Inspectors, Mohan, Mariamuthu and Ramakrishnan fanned out in different directions including Chamraj Nagar in Karnataka pursuing vital clues.
Investigations revealed that the gang was operating with a similar modus operandi targeting only aged couples and isolated farm houses.
Mr.Arun told reporters that the teams arrested a seven member gang identified as Manikandan (19) of Somanur who was living just behind the house of the victims, Imran (22) residing at Somanur and hailing from Chamraj Nagar, Balaji (21), Panneerselvam (20), Sanesh (20), Arif (20) and Ramesh (26) all hailing from Somanur.
The accused had confessed to their involvement in dacoity at a house at Oonjapalayam in Karumathampatti wherein they assaulted Shanmugam (70) and his wife Kamalam (64) and decamped with properties 8.5 sovereigns of jewellery worth Rs 42,500.
The gang was involved in a case of robbery at Unjapalayam in Karumathampatti wherein they had waylaid Raja (27) and robbed him of his mobile phone, wrist watch and cash Rs 1,100 all worth Rs 7,500.
The special teams have so far recovered 11 sovereigns of gold jewels, mobile phones, wrist watch and cash Rs 12,400 all worth Rs 74,700.
The special teams are still on the job of recovering the remaining property that had either been sold or mortgaged elsewhere and are on the job of tracking down three more members of the gang Irfan (brother of Imran), Ramkumar and Vaseem.
Mr.Arun commending the special teams for the meticulous, scientific and systematic investigations that led to the nabbing of the first time offenders (who are just coming to the adverse notice of the police) said that the members of the special teams would be rewarded with cash rewards, Good Service and Meritorious Services Entries for resolving one of the most challenging and toughest case.
Mr.Arun said that the absconding accused are suspected to be involved in the day time house burglary of the house of a utensils shop owner at Somanur, wherein they had decamped with 60 sovereigns of jewellery and Rs 10 lakhs cash in November 11.
The arrest of the trio would completely resolve all these cases besides unravelling the mystery in some other cases as well.
