A suspect allegedly involved in many crimes was shot dead in an encounter with the police near the Padunelli check-post in Kancheepuram district early on Friday.
According to police sources, Natarajan of Illupapattu in Nagapattinam, was riding a motorcycle when police signalled him to stop at the check-post at 3.30 a.m.
On seeing the police, he hurled petrol bombs damaging a jeep.
He tried to attack the police team with a lethal weapon. The Kanchi taluk police inspector, Sampath, opened fire in retaliation. Natarajan suffered bullet injuries on his chest and hip. He was taken to the district headquarters hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Kancheepuram Range Deputy Inspector General of Police M. Ramasubramaniam said verification of calls made by the suspect on his mobile phone revealed his identity. Natarajan was a known offender and an associate of ‘Manalmedu' Shankar of Mayiladuthurai area, he said.
