Chennai: Man hacked to death in broad daylight, attackers share video online

A 25-year-old man was waylaid and hacked to death in broad daylight in Chennai’s Adyar around 11 am on Tuesday, October 27.  

The deceased, Maithreyan, was classified as a C-category history-sheeter. He had recently been released on bail in a ganja case and was returning from the Mylapore police station in an autorickshaw along with his father. Maithreyan visited the police station to sign in the police register as part of his bail conditions. While he was returning, a three-member gang reportedly stopped the vehicle. Though the deceased tried to flee, he was surrounded and fatally attacked. The incident took place on Indira Nagar Main Road.     

A video of the attack shows one of the accused, identified as Jeevanandham, walking away with a machete after the killing, getting on a two-wheeler with two others, and waving the weapon. While leaving, one of the accused also appeared to show an obscene gesture to the victim.

Maithreyan was taken to a private hospital in Taramani, where he was declared dead. His body was subsequently sent to the Government Royapettah Hospital for a postmortem examination.

According to reports, the accused Jeevanandham (20), Surya (19), and Vignesh (19) allegedly killed Maithreyan fearing that he would launch a retaliatory attack against them. In November last year, Jeevanandham and his associates allegedly killed Maithreyan’s friend, Susai. The gang reportedly suspected that Maithreyan was planning to avenge Susai’s death.

All three accused have been arrested and charged with murder.

The accused had also uploaded a video of the attack on social media. They took it down after the police instructed them to remove it.

Reacting to the news, former chief minister MK Stalin alleged  that the state is seeing a deterioration of law and order. “There is no safety anywhere, be it prisons, schools, roads or courts! The Chief Minister has no concern for any of these issues. Officials have no guidance, and criminals have no fear. As long as the TVK remains in power, there is no hope for Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Recently, another history-sheeter, ‘Sullan’ Madhan (26), was killed in a revenge attack in Sivaganga district. The murder triggered tensions after his gang, the ‘Agni Brothers’, vowed on Instagram to avenge his death. Police have arrested 11 people aged between 19 and 26 in connection with the murder, while several others have been detained for issuing provocative threats.