In a shocking incident pointing to possible political rivalry within the party, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary was targeted by a gang at his residence in the early hours of Friday near Chennai. The attack occurred in Manimangalam, close to Tambaram, following a public meeting the victim had addressed.
Midnight Assault at Residence
The victim, identified as Selvamani, a local BJP functionary from Manimangalam in Kancheepuram district, had returned home around midnight. He had just come back from addressing a BJP public meeting at Sriperumbudur on Thursday evening, where he had reportedly criticized political opponents, the Congress and the DMK.
Around 1 am, a man came to Selvamani's house and called for him. When Selvamani stepped outside to speak, a gang of five men, who were hiding nearby, suddenly emerged and attempted to assault him with knives and iron rods. Sensing imminent danger, Selvamani managed to run back into his house and secure the door.
Vandalism and Police Response
Frustrated by his escape, the enraged gang then tried to break open the door. Failing that, they turned their anger towards property outside. The assailants vandalized two luxury cars and a motorcycle parked on the premises. They also hurled stones at the house's window panes and deliberately smashed the CCTV cameras installed there to destroy evidence.
Alerted by the commotion, Selvamani's wife, Megala, immediately called the police control room. Personnel from the Manimangalam police station rushed to the spot. Upon seeing the police arrive, the attackers fled the scene. Law enforcement officials later conducted a thorough inspection of the area and began examining available CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify the culprits.
Political Motive Suspected, Five Detained
In his statement to the police, Selvamani identified the man who initially called him out as Prakash, aged 28, who works as the car driver for a senior BJP functionary. Selvamani alleged that the attack was politically motivated, carried out by individuals within the party who were unhappy with his rising influence and growth.
Acting swiftly on the complaint and evidence, the police have detained five individuals for questioning, including the driver, Prakash. A detailed investigation is currently underway to uncover the full sequence of events and the precise motives behind the violent assault.
