Auto driver murdered by gang

Tension prevailed at Thatchanallur here after an auto driver was murdered by an armed gang on the busy North Bypass Road on Wednesday.

Police said the gang on three bikes intercepted C. Ponniah (24) of Theneerkulam near Thatchanallur at the northern end of the Chellapandian flyover when he was returning home after dropping schoolchildren. Even as he was talking to them, the gang members hacked him to death.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Tirunelveli City, T.P. Suresh Kumar, visited the spot. During investigation, Palayamkottai police found that Ponniah had a heated argument with one Sakthivel and Kumar from Thatchanallur a few months ago when the duo parked their autos in Santhimaritha Amman Temple auto stand where the victim would park his vehicle.

When Ponniah submitted a complaint against them in Thatchanallur police station, Sakthivel and Kumar were asked to park their autos in some other area. Since he has been murdered against this backdrop, the police suspect that the altercation might have led to the murder.

Relatives of the deceased attacked the house of one of the suspects at Thatchanallur and damaged an autorickshaw. Three buses and a lorry were damaged in stone pelting.

When the protestors blocked traffic near Santhimaritha Amman Temple, the police chased them away using mild force.

Normality returned after additional police force was rushed to the spot. Special teams have been dispatched to nab the culprits.