Two Killed, Five Injured in Sickle Attack in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli District
In a shocking incident of violence, two individuals lost their lives and five others sustained injuries after a gang armed with sickles launched a brutal attack in Perumpathu village near Nanguneri, located in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The assault occurred on Monday evening, sending shockwaves through the local community and prompting swift police action.
Details of the Fatal Attack
According to police reports, the attack unfolded around 7:15 PM when a group of assailants entered the village and targeted people gathered near a tea shop. The gang not only used sickles but also hurled a Molotov cocktail, which fortunately failed to explode, averting further catastrophe. The deceased have been identified as Trinath Kata, a resident of Odisha living in Nanguneri, and John Mark, a person with disabilities from Perumpathu. Both victims suffered severe head and facial injuries and succumbed to their wounds on the spot.
The injured individuals include Saskiumar of Puliyankulam, Ganesan of Veerankulam, and Nelson, Prabhakaran, and Ramasamy, all from Perumpathu. They are currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital, with their conditions being closely monitored by authorities.
Police Response and Arrests
In a rapid response, police arrested seven suspects within 24 hours of the incident. The arrested individuals are Kannan (21), Anthony Michel (18), Subbaia alias Subash (19), and Kalyani (19) from Thennimalai; Uchimahali alias Mittai (20) from Valliyur; Vasantha Kumar (21) from Nedungulam; and Raja (19) from Nanguneri. A case has been registered by the Nanguneri police under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act, based on a complaint filed by the injured Prabhakaran.
District Superintendent of Police V Prassanna Kumar visited the crime scene immediately to oversee the investigation. Forensic teams were deployed to collect evidence, sniffer dogs were used to track clues, and CCTV footage from the area is being meticulously analyzed to piece together the sequence of events.
Villager Protests and Tensions
Soon after the attack, villagers staged a road roko protest, demanding immediate arrests of the perpetrators. The protest was temporarily withdrawn following assurances from the police, but tensions flared again on Tuesday morning, necessitating a heavy police deployment in the area. A brief sit-in demonstration was held but was called off after discussions with officials.
Senior police officials, including Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Maheshwar Dayal, South Zone IG Vijayendra S Bidari, and DIG (Tirunelveli Range) P Saravanan, reviewed the situation with district police on Tuesday. They confirmed that special teams were formed, leading to the apprehension of the suspects through coordinated field operations and technical analysis.
Motive and Investigation Insights
Preliminary investigations suggest that the attack was motivated by an old rivalry between residents of two villages. "There is an old rivalry between the people of the two villages, which prima facie appears to be the motive," stated an official. Another senior officer added that investigators are probing whether the accused were under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack. The assault appears to have been aimed at establishing dominance by targeting vulnerable individuals, highlighting the grim nature of inter-village conflicts in the region.
As the investigation continues, authorities are working to ensure peace and prevent any further escalation of violence in the area.
