A modus operandi adopted by a gang of culprits to lure lorry drivers in the guise of women along highways during night hours to commit robbery, has been exposed in a murder case cracked within a week of occurrence in Chithode.
Following clues elicited from presence of liquor bottles near Kumiliamparappu Vaikalmedu Bus Stop, the spot of murder of Ponnusamy, a lorry driver of Thangamapuripattinam in Salem district, and inquiries made at the nearest Tasmac outlet, a police team zeroed in on the main culprit Kumar (26) of Madeswaran Nagar on Tuesday, and subsequently nabbed his two accomplices Baskaran (26) and Eashwaran (23).
The three had confessed to have beaten Ponnusamy to death on the night of June 4, and searched in vain for money in the cabin before leaving the spot in a two-wheeler with Rs. 300 and a mobile phone belonging to the victim.
The police had registered a case on a complaint preferred by the victim’s son Viswanathan of Bhavani.
Recovered
The police recovered from the trio the two-wheeler, the mobile phone and a log used for attacking the victim.
The gang had indulged in similar crimes along Tiruchengode-Paramathi Velur Highway six months back and along Perundurai Highway a month ago.
Painters by vocation, they had confessed to have taken to crime to spend money lavishly for drinking.
They were remanded in judicial custody.
