Ten murders reported across Tamil Nadu during Deepavali celebrations

Ten unconnected murders were reported across Tamil Nadu from Sunday into the early hours of Monday, coinciding with Deepavali celebrations. Police said the victims included a Special Sub-Inspector in Theni.

In Theni, SSI Senthil Kumar was attacked by a group of youths after he rebuked them for bursting firecrackers in the middle of a road and blocking traffic while making reels. He died of his injuries on Monday.

“The Vyasarpadi murder was a targeted, localised conflict and not a lapse in general crowd control.”

In Vyasarpadi, Chennai, a group of six assailants chased auto-rickshaw driver Dhanush down a street and hacked him to death with sharp weapons. Police said an earlier enmity between the victim and the attackers was the initial reason; Dhanush had gone to question those who attacked his brother. He died while being taken to Stanley Government Hospital.

In Tiruchirappalli district, two 17-year-old daily wage labourers were intercepted and hacked to death near the Pullambadi canal late at night. Two people were also killed in a double murder in the same district.

In Cuddalore, history-sheeter Prithiviraj was stabbed to death with a beer bottle during a clash with Arularasan. Police shot Arularasan in the leg and arrested him.

Greater Chennai Police deployed over 18,000 personnel across the city for Deepavali security. Police said the Vyasarpadi killing was a targeted, localised conflict and not a lapse in general crowd control.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced a relief of 4 million rupees for the family of the slain SSI.