A gang hacked to death a 42-year-old history-sheeter, K. ‘Pambu’ Pandi of Kamarajapuram, brother-in-law of a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam functionary, V.K. Gurusamy, in the busy East Marret Street in the city in the early hours of Monday.
The city police have registered a case against seven persons, including councillor of ward 71 and former East Zone Chairperson of Madurai Corporation M. Rajapandian (AIADMK), and his three sons, in connection with the murder.
The murder is said to have been executed in retaliation for the 2003 murder of Chinna Munees, nephew of Rajapandian. ‘Pambu’ Pandi was the prime accused in the case that ended in the acquittal of all the seven accused, the police said.
The assailants, who were waiting near the Onion Market in the East Marret Street, attacked Pandi, as soon as he arrived on the spot on his cargo autorickshaw at around 6.30 a.m.
He made a futile attempt to flee from the scene as the armed assailants hacked and stabbed him on the ribs, head and back repeatedly using sharp-edged weapons. He died on the spot. The murder took place in full public view. A closed circuit television camera put up in a private building had captured the murder, the police said.
S. Kalimuthu (24), the younger brother of Chinna Munees, has been cited as the prime suspect in the case by the Vilakkuthoon police.
The other suspects are Manikandan, Karthik, and Rajapandian’s sons Thoppili Muniyasamy, Venkat and Periyasamy.
