Tamil Nadu: DMK councillor, 8 others arrested for killing a soldier in Krishnagiri

The soldier succumbed to injuries on 14 February, following which the police registered an FIR under Section 302 of the IPC.

ByVinodh Arulappan

Published Feb 15, 2023 | 6:30 PMUpdatedFeb 15, 2023 | 6:31 PM

Deceased soldier Prabhu succumbed to his injuries. (Supplied)

A DMK councillor and eight others were arrested on Wednesday, 15 February, for killing a paramilitary soldier in the Pochampalli village of the Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu.

According to the police, Prabhakaran (33) and his brother Prabhu (29) — the victim — were working in the paramilitary forces and posted in Chennai.

On 8 February, Prabhakaran’s wife was washing clothes in the common water tank located outside the panchayat office.

Ward councillor of Nagojanahalli town panchayat, Chinnasamy (50) — attached to the DMK — admonished the woman for washing clothes in the common water tank that was erected to store drinking water.

At this time, Prabhakaran and Prabhu, who were also present there, got into an altercation with Chinnasamy. Sources said that the brothers attacked the DMK councillor.

In the evening, Chinnasamy — with his sons and a few others — returned to the area and entered into another altercation with Prabhakaran and Prabhu. The group attacked the duo with logs and stones.

Following this, the locals pacified both parties. However, sustaining grievous injuries, Prabhakaran and Prabhu were admitted to a private hospital in Hosur.

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Meanwhile, Prabhakaran lodged a complaint against the councillor and the others with the Nagarasampatti police. Based on the complaint, the police filed an FIR against 10 people.

On 10 February, the police arrested six of them, including the councillor’s three sons — Rajapandi (30), Guru Suryamoorthy (27), who works as a police constable in Chennai, and Gunanidhi (19).

Further, the police arrested Manikandan (32), Mathayan (60), and Vediappan (55) — all relatives of the councillor. At the time of these arrests, the DMK councillor and four others absconded.

Murder charges filed

Prabhu, who was under treatment at the private hospital in Hosur, succumbed to injuries on Tuesday.

Following this information, the police altered the FIR against the 10 persons from an Attempt to Murder to Murder (302 IPC).

Giving the latest update, Deputy Superintendent of Police KM Manoharan told South First, “The complainant and the accused are relatives. Soon after the incident, an FIR was registered. Six persons were arrested and today (Wednesday), three accused, including the councillor who was absconding, were arrested by the police.”

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