K. Kumar (28), a suspect in the murder of a constable in Sattur, was killed in a police encounter, 15 km from the Sattur National Highway in Virudhunagar district on Thursday.
Kumar, an accused in several cases, allegedly hacked to death police constable R. Nagarathinam (39), attached to the Sattur Taluk police station, while he was on bandobust duty at a local temple festival on Tuesday.
Eleven police teams had been formed to track down Kumar. The Virudhunagar Special Branch personnel, attached to the office of the Superintendent of Police, received information that Kumar was hiding somewhere on the western side of the National Highway near Sattur.
Immediately, a posse of policemen rushed to the spot. Kumar, who was hiding behind thorny bushes, attempted to attack an Armed Reserve police constable Selvakumar with a machete. The policeman opened fire in defence in which Kumar suffered injuries.
He was rushed to Sattur Government Hospital where he was declared ‘brought dead' at 7.10 a.m, Virudhunagar Superintendent of Police D. Krishnamurthi said.
Police said Kumar's wife, Solaiammal, who had consumed poison after hearing that her husband had killed a policeman, died in a private hospital on Thursday.
When contacted, Mr. Krishnamurthi, camping at Virudhunagar, told The Hindu that Kumar was a history sheeter and was wanted in many grave crimes in Sattur Taluk police station. He was in the habit of consuming liquor and threatening people with deadly weapons.