SIVAKASI
Two Assamese workers of a fireworks unit here, who are absconding along with their family members, are suspected to have murdered a worker, C. Selvaraj (35) of Rengasamuthirapatti, at Jeya Vinayagar Fireworks at Paraipatti village.
Police said the lessee of the factory on Mamsapuram-Malli Road, G. Raja Bhoopathi (49), on Tuesday night got a call from someone that the Assamese workers, who were staying in the factory quarters located near the unit, had a scuffle.
Mr. Raja Bhoopathi, who lives in Watrap, alerted his employee Selvaraj and asked him to go to the factory and pacify the quarrelling employees. However, Selvaraj, who went there late in the night, did not return.
“Mr. Raja Bhoopathi tried to reach Selvaraj on his mobile phone. The phone kept ringing initially, and then was switched off,” Superintendent of Police M. Rajarajan said.
Later, when Mr. Raja Bhoopathi went to the factory he found that the two workers of the Assamese family, J. Usain Ali (47) and his son Pappul (25), along with Usain Ali’s wife Piritha Begam and five children, were missing from their dwelling unit. A cargo auto that was parked there was also missing.
Mr. Raja Bhoopathi was shocked to find the body of Selvaraj lying in an unused farm well close by. His motorbike was also found inside the well.
“It looks like the family escaped in the cargo auto. We need to nab the family members to find out what happened on Tuesday night and the motive for the murder,” the SP said.
Special teams have fanned out to Kolkatta, Tiruppur and Kerala in search of the Assamese family.
Maraneri police have registered a case.
