A traders' association leader was hacked to death near 100 ft Road in Arumbakkam, here on Monday night by unidentified men, while he was headed home on his motorcycle. Police suspect a rivalry among his union members led to the killing.
One person surrendered in Egmore Court on Tuesday following the crime.
Arumbakkam police said the victim, Mohammed Rafeeq (42), a resident of Anna Nedumpathai, Choolaimedu, ran various businesses including a cable TV dealership and also owned a lodge in Arumbakkam. He was the founder-president of a traders' association based in Arumbakkam.
Around 10 p.m., Rafeeq left his lodge on his motorcycle and was on his way home. As he was riding on a road off 100 ft Road, three unidentified men waiting in an autorickshaw intercepted his vehicle and attacked him with knives and sickles. They fled immediately. Passers-by and employees of his lodge rushed there and took him to a hospital nearby but he succumbed on the way , police added.
Arumbakkam police have registered a case of murder and sent Rafeeq's body to the Government Kilpauk hospital for a post-mortem examination.
According to an investigating officer, Rafeeq had had a fall-out with some of his association members recently over one of the office bearers' name and photograph not being included in a banner for the inauguration of a watershed in Choolaimedu . “The minor issue led to a rift among the members and the involvement of a few members is suspected in the murder,” the officer added.
On Tuesday afternoon, a man identified as Akbar Basha (36) of West Mogappair surrendered in the Egmore Court in connection with Rafeeq's murder. Arumbakkam police are investigating further.
