A coordinated crime spree across Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts by a gang on two-wheelers has led to an intense police crackdown, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals, including three juveniles, on Saturday. The gang carried out extortion attempts and random assaults over a 24-hour period, prompting a massive manhunt involving drones and canine squads.
Sequence of Attacks
The attacks began on Thursday within the Ambasamudram police station limits. The gang intercepted Manikandan, 29, in the Brahmadesam area and attempted to extort money, slashing his left finger when he resisted before fleeing. They then targeted a sculpture workshop owned by Selva Ganesan in Vaagaikulam.
On Friday evening, the gang rode into Nettur village under the Alangulam police jurisdiction in Tenkasi district. Wearing masks, they attacked villagers and wedding attendees with sickles on the main road, damaging parked vehicles. Six injured individuals were taken to the primary health center in Nettur and later shifted to Alangulam Government Hospital. The injured reportedly belong to the Scheduled Caste community.
Subsequently, in Therkupatti village within the Manur police limits in Tirunelveli district, the gang's reckless driving led to a verbal altercation with pedestrians. The confrontation turned violent when they attacked two bystanders, Mubarak, 30, and Abdul Rahuman, 36, leaving them injured before escaping.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Separate cases were registered at Ambasamudram, Alangulam, and Manur police stations. Using drones and raids on known criminal hideouts, police arrested eight suspects. Surveillance drones and a dog squad are deployed to track remaining gang members. A large-scale anti-rowdy drive has been initiated across the Tirunelveli range, with history-sheeters and habitual offenders being monitored.
A senior police official confirmed that two arrested men are history-sheeters. The official denied allegations of a caste-based attack, attributing it to previous enmity, noting the attack on two Muslims in Tirunelveli. The arrested men were booked under the Arms Act, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and Section 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
CPM state secretary P Shanmugam condemned the attack at Nettur, calling it an act by caste fanatics.
