A special police team shot dead an accused in an alleged encounter, when the suspect, wanted in connection with a robbery case, hacked the members of a police party on being rounded up at Saveriyarpuram, near Thiruvadanai in Thondi police limit, on Thursday night.
The police said that the special team, comprising Sub Inspector (SI) of police J. Thangamuniasamy and constable K. Soundarapandi, tried to apprehend the accused, B. Govindan alias Govindaraj (45), after intercepting his car around 10.30 p.m. When the accused hacked the constable, the SI warned him to put down the ‘aruval’ (sickle) and surrender. Govindan hacked him too, and tried to attack the car driver. In response, the SI pulled out his 9mm pistol and shot him on his chest, police sources said, adding that the accused collapsed and the police took him to the government hospital at Thiruvadanai, where the duty doctor declared him brought dead.
Chased and cornered
High drama preceded the alleged encounter when the police party proceeded in a cab to arrest Govindan based on a tip-off given by his accomplice, V. Sinrasu (25).
When the accomplice identified the car and Govindan, who was behind the wheel, the police party moved closer. Sensing trouble, Govindan dashed against the police cab and drove fast. But police chased the accused for about four km before cornering him.
“The SI, who suffered cut injury in his left forearm and the constable, in his right shoulder, were admitted to the Government headquarters hospital here and their condition was stable,” a police officer said.
There are a dozen cases, including a murder case, against Govindan, the police said.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG — Ramanathapuram range) Kapil Saratkar visited the spot and conducted an inquiry. This was the second encounter in this range in the last three months. A SI had shot dead a criminal at Sithanoor in Sivaganga district on January 11, when the accused hacked him and tried to flee.
Magisterial probe begins
Meanwhile, a magisterial inquiry commenced with Judicial Magistrate A. Kannan conducting the inquest after visiting the mortuary at the government district headquarters hospital.
A team of doctors commenced the post-mortem and the whole process was videographed as per Supreme Court guidelines, the police said. Meanwhile, the SP appointed Mohamed Nazir, Inspector of Police, Thondi, as the investigation officer to probe the killing of the accused.
