A history-sheeter was hacked to death in broad daylight by a three-member gang on Munichalai Road here on Tuesday.
The police identified the deceased as A. Mannar Mohideen (36) of Nelpettai.
He was feeding his cattle near his house around 11 a.m. when three persons armed with sickles and knives arrived at the spot and attacked him. Within a few minutes, the suspects fled the spot on a two-wheeler.
Even as the victim was writhing in pain, his brother reached the spot on receiving information and rushed him to the Government Rajaji Hospital, where the victim succumbed to injuries.
The suspects have been identified as Ibrahim Shah (35), ‘Vaalakkai’ Rafique (35) and an unidentified person, the police said, and added that the deceased was involved in 12 criminal cases.
The main suspect, Ibrahim and the victim were part of a gang that had allegedly murdered A.R. Kalidas, a Hindu Makkal Katchi functionary in 2005.
Though Ibrahim was convicted in the murder case, he is out on bail, the deceased Mannar Mohideen was acquitted.
Mannar Mohideen, who was into real estate business and State president of Tamizhaga Makkal Jananayaga Katchi, had assaulted Ibrahim Shah and his relative in December last over a dispute.
Both, the victim and the suspect Ibrahim belong to a fundamentalist group that was involved in several murder cases,
Deputy Commissioner of Police (law and order) Samanth Rohan Rajendra told The Hindu .
“The murder could be a fallout of an internal rivalry,” he added.
The victim had sustained injuries on his stomach and forehead.
Meanwhile, Syed Ibrahim, the elder brother of the victim alleged that Ibrahim Shah and his accomplice had committed the crime due to a personal motive.
The accused are still absconding. The Vilakkathoon police have registered a case under section 302 and 506(ii) of IPC.
