RAMANATHAPURAM
A three-member gang hacked ‘Thava’ Muniasamy (45), district traders’ wing secretary of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), when he was on his morning walk at Chidambaram Pillai Oorani here on Wednesday.
Police said Mr. Muniasamy was on his routine walk around 7.45 a.m., when three men hacked him with a billhook and attacked him with a wooden log before fleeing from the scene.
Mr. Muniasamy, who suffered cut injuries on his forehead and right arm, was admitted to the Government District Headquarters Hospital here. A Sub-Registrar and the victim’s niece, who were also on their morning walk, arranged for his hospitalisation, the police said. Hospital sources said his condition was stable.
Mr. Muniasamy, whose house was attacked with petrol bombs on March 3 for allegedly speaking against Minister for Information Technology M. Manikandan, told the police that the assailants attacked him, saying “how dare you speak ill of the AIADMK Minister.”
The police registered a case against three unknown persons under Sections 294 (b) (uttering obscene words), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC.
Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena said three special teams had been formed to nab the assailants. Within a few hours of the attack, the teams identified two suspects and they would be arrested soon.
The SP said the suspects, armed with a billhook, knife and wooden log, jumped over the wire fence along the walkers’ path and confronted the victim. While one hacked him on the head, another tried to stab him in the abdomen. The third assailant hit Mr. Muniasamy with the wooden log.
After verifying the modus operandi and scanning the list of ex-criminals, the special teams identified Vicky alias Vignesh (27) and Suresh (26), both hailing from MSK Nagar, here as the assailants. The victim also confirmed their identity.
Meanwhile, AMMK volunteers, led by district secretary Va. Thu. Na. Anand blocked road in front of the hospital and near the new bus stand for more than three hours before courting arrest.
Alleging that the attack was instigated by Mr. Manikandan, they demanded registration of a case against him and his arrest.
When contacted, Mr. Manikandan, who was in Chennai, said he had nothing to do with the incident. “I came to know of the incident only through you,” he told The Hindu .
