Reports say the police opened fire on him after Manikantan assaulted a Sub-Inspector and attempted to flee while being taken to recover the murder weapon.
Published Aug 07, 2025 | 11:45 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 07, 2025 | 11:45 AM
Manikantan.
Synopsis: The Tamil Nadu Police killed in an encounter one of the accused in a case related to the murder of a Special Sub-Inspector in the Tiruppur district. While at the site, he reportedly attacked an SI and tried to escape, which led to the police shooting him.
The Tamil Nadu Police on Wednesday, 6 August, killed in an encounter one of the accused in a case related to the murder of a Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) in the Tiruppur district.
The deceased accused has been identified as Manikantan. On Tuesday night, SSI Shanmugavel, posted at the Gudimangalam Police Station, was hacked to death in a plantation belonging to Madathukulam MLA Mahendran (AIADMK) in Sikkanoothu village.
Reports say the police opened fire on him after Manikantan assaulted a Sub-Inspector and attempted to flee while being taken to recover the murder weapon.
On Wednesday, the police arrested two accused — Manikantan’s father, Murthy and brother Thangapandian — in connection with the case. Meanwhile, Manikandan, the main accused, was shot dead in an encounter during police interrogation.
The police team took him to the water stream near Upparu Dam at Chikkanur, close to Gudimangalam, the location where he had allegedly discarded the sickle used in the crime.
While at the site, he reportedly attacked an SI named Saravanakumar and tried to escape, which led to the police shooting him.
Manikandan’s body is currently kept at Tiruppur Government Hospital, under heavy police security. The incident has caused a tense atmosphere in the region.
Manikandan, along with Murthy and Thangapandian, had been working and residing at a farm owned by Mahendran. On Tuesday night, the trio got into an altercation under the influence of alcohol.
During the dispute, the two sons allegedly assaulted their father. Neighbours alerted the police through the emergency helpline. Shanmugavel and Constable Azhagu Raja, who were on patrol duty nearby, responded to the call and arrived at the scene around 11 pm.
Shanmugavel reportedly intervened and arranged for Murthy to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
Enraged by the intervention, Manikandan attacked Shanmugavel with a sickle, killing him on the spot. The father and sons then allegedly attempted to assault the constable and the farm manager. Both managed to escape and alert the police, officials said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
