A 19-year-old college student, who was attacked by an armed gang with knives and sickles in Villivakkam on Tuesday morning, died at a hospital early on Wednesday.
Police said the attack was to avenge the murder of a youth last November after an argument during a game of cricket. Eight youngsters were arrested in connection with Tuesday’s attack.
N. Gopinath, a 1year-student of B. Com at Annai Violet College of Arts and Science in Pattaravakkam, and resident of Lakshmipuram in Villivakkam, was attacked by the gang at the intersection of Adi Naidu Street and New Avadi Road around 6.45 a.m..
“Gopinath succumbed to injuries around 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday,” said an investigating officer. The attack on Gopinath was in retaliation to the murder of Satish on November 2, 2013 at a playground in Villivakkam. “Gopinath and his friends Annadurai and Murali, attacked Satish with a cricket bat after an argument. Satish died due to head injuries. They were arrested and Gopinath was lodged in a juvenile home as he was seventeen at the time. He was later released on bail,” he added.
Satish’s friends decided to avenge his death. The arrested youth are: Shivaji (22), Janakiraman (21), Pandian (24), Arumugam (22), Yugalingam (23), Ganesh (28) and Murali (18), all residents of Villivakkam, and Karunakaran (23) of ICF.