The police on Saturday arrested five persons in connection with the murder of Congress functionary Manoharan (32) at Poornankuppam near here.
Police said a special team arrested the accused identified as Kumaravelu, Rajasegar, Tamilarasan, Mugilan and Tamilarasan from Thirukkanur on Saturday.
A search has been launched for six others including the main accused Anbalagan alias Alagar who is absconding.
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Manoharan, a native of Poornankuppam village was returning in a load carrier from Puducherry when a gang waylaid him on the Poornankuppam Road. They hurled country-made bombs on the victim and hacked him to death.
The police have registered a case against Kumar, Anbalagan alias Alagar, Karthikeyan , Kumaravel, Rajasekar, Silambu Selvam, Mugilan alias Tamilarasan and three others under Sections 147, 148, 341, 342, 302 of IPC and Section 3 of Explosives Substances Act (1908) read with 149 of IPC. The police had formed six special crime teams under the supervision of V. Devasigamani, Superintendent of Police (Rural).
Police sources said that Alagar was the main accused in the murder of the victim’s brother Kamaraj, a youth Congress functionary in 2013. Kamaraj’s first death anniversary was observed two days ago in the village.
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A senior police official said that Alagar and the other accused were externed by the police from entering Poornankuppam.
The accused had information that Manoharan and his supporters were harassing the family members of the accused.
The victim’s supporters had also planned to eliminate the accused to avenge Kamaraj’s murder. All these drove the accused to commit the crime, he said.
Earlier residents of Poornankuppam laid siege to the Thavalakuppam police station demanding immediate arrest of culprits involved in the murder.
They refused to collect the body of Manoharan kept at the Puducherry Government Hospital till all the accused were arrested. Senior police officials pacified them.
Meanwhile, police pickets have been posted at Poornankuppam village and Thavalakuppam main Road and patrolling increased to prevent any untoward incident.