Amidst police protection, the body of Pitchaiah (57), who was murdered by an armed gang at Kongaraayakurichi near Srivaikundam in Tuticorin district on Tuesday, was cremated on Wednesday after the post-mortem at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.
After Superintendent of Police M. Durai, who has deployed armed police personnel in the village, and a team of revenue officials pacified the relatives of the deceased and promised them of early arrest of the murderers, they accepted the body.
Subsequently, relatives of the deceased went to TVMCH in three vehicles with police protection, received the body shortly after the noon and cremated it around 3 p.m.
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A team of revenue officials, led by tahsildar of Srivaikundam, Ilango, visited the ransacked houses and inspected the vehicles to assess the quantum of damage caused by the armed gang after the murder.
“A total of 53 houses have been ransacked and household articles damaged. Moreover, four 4-wheelers and three 2-wheelers have been completely smashed,” Mr. Ilango said, adding that the total quantum of damage had been estimated at Rs. 9.67 lakh.
However, the villagers said seven four-wheelers and 10 two-wheelers were damaged by the mob that also allegedly had taken away totally Rs.80,000 from two houses and a teashop.
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As tension continues at Kongaraayakurichi on Wednesday, mothers of the girl students accompanied them even as they were going to their schools in nearby areas including Srivaikundam in the morning.
“Since buses are not operated in Vallanadu – Srivaikundam stretch for the past three weeks, we’ve to reach Karunkulam on foot to take the buses to reach our schools,” the students said.
Meanwhile, the police have picked-up six persons in connection with the murder of Pitchaiah.