A wholesale vegetable vendor K. Chandran (50), who is also the secretary of the wholesale vegetable market association at Paravai, was allegedly hacked to death by an armed gang in his shop on Tuesday late night.
An accused, identified as Kumar alias ‘Jetti’ Kumar, reportedly surrendered in Nilakottai court in Dindigul district on Wednesday afternoon in this connection, police here said.
The Paravai wholesale perishable market normally functions from late night onwards when the vegetables and fruits start arriving from different destinations. There would be a hectic activity until in the early hours as buyers from many local markets visit here for procurement.
The Madurai district police said that Chandran, son of Karuthar Servai of Sathya Sai Nagar, Jaihindpuram, was in his Paravai shop with two of his staff. At around 12.45 a.m., four to five persons had arrived near the shop.
They suddenly started attacking Chandran, who was sitting inside the shop. Caught unawares, he could not escape and died on the spot as he suffered multiple stab injuries, police added.
Based on a complaint from the victim’s son, Karthik, the police have registered a murder case. The exact motive behind the murder was not yet known, but the police suspected some property deal effected in the past, in which the victim figured, may be a reason, to settle scores. “We are in the process of gathering details from different sources and witnesses,” an investigation officer said.
Police said that they would take custody of the accused and interrogate soon. Teams have been formed to secure other accomplices, who were involved in the crime, police said.
Representation
Office-bearers belonging to the Wholesale Vegetable and Perishable Commodities Association made a representation to District Collector to give protection by setting up a police outpost in the market. A couple of years back, a relative of Chandran was hacked to death, a member claimed.
