An armed gang hacked to death a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) functionary at Thaalamuthu Nagar near here on Thursday owing to suspected prior enmity.
Police said that the assailants hacked to death I. Jesuraj (55), DMK’s Maappillaiyoorani area secretary from Siluvaipatti when he came out of his daughter’s textile shop at Thaalamuthu Nagar around 2.30 p.m.
During investigation, police found that Jesuraj’s son Alex, who was allegedly involved in a theft, was recently caught red-handed by a group of youths from another community.
When Alex was told to return the entire booty, Jesuraj reportedly told them that he was prepared to give three sovereigns of gold as he could recover only that much from his son.
Unsatisfied with his reply, the youths picked up a heated argument with Jesuraj and it led to enmity between them.
Against this backdrop, Jesuraj has been murdered.
Superintendent of Police Ashwin M. Kotnis and ASP Arun Sakthikumar rushed to the spot and sent the body to the Tuticorin Medical College Hospital for a post-mortem.
The murder triggered tension in and around Thaalamuthu Nagar where shops were closed immediately. Meanwhile, the police have picked up one Mariselvam for interrogation.
The murder triggered tension, and shops were closed immediately
