With no clues yet on the identity of the killers of Hindu Munnani functionary Suresh Kumar on the Ambattur Industrial Estate on Wednesday night, investigators are relying heavily on the key eyewitness who reportedly tried to protect the victim.
Meanwhile the police have formed eight special teams to probe the murder.
The 48-year-old leader of the Tiruvallur unit was murdered outside his shop on the CTH Road by two men who fled with a third one on a motorcycle.
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The eyewitness, whose identity the police preferred not to divulge, runs a shop in the vicinity.
“He rushed to Kumar’s aid as the latter was being hacked with sickles by two youths. The man suffered cuts on his hand and stepped away from the spot after the incident,” said an investigating officer. The witness who is undergoing treatment at a hospital is yet to recover from shock to provide police with crucial evidence.
Sources in the investigation team also said that the CCTV footage obtained from a camera at a traffic signal and a fuel station near the crime spot was of no use as it was not equipped with night vision.
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The Hindu Munnani functionaries have criticised the police for not taking action on their complaint to the Chennai Police Commissioner on February 22, 2014, that there were imminent threats to their key leaders in Chennai, Tambaram, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.
The complaint cited a threat letter which stated that certain extremist groups were planning to kidnap and murder nine leaders of the Hindu Munnani.
The complaint was acknowledged by the police through a CSR, but no further action was initiated, a leader charged.
Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai leader T. Vellaiyan condemned the killing of Suresh Kumar and urged the Chief Minister to initiate stringent action against the culprits and stall violence with communal overtones.