Chennai cop opens fire at son-in-law, leaves him injured

CHENNAI: An armed reserve sub-inspector opened fire at his son-in-law at Mandaveli on Monday night, allegedly over a family dispute, police said. While residents of the area caught sub-inspector Sanakara Pandian and handed him over to a team of the Abiramapuram police which arrested him, the injured Rajasekar, a software engineer, was admitted to a private hospital in Adyar.
Around 9pm, witnesses said, Rajasekar and his wife Abinaya were returning home along Mosque Street, which was buzzing with activity, when a plainclothes man, later identified as Sankara Pandian, intercepted them. The young couple had recently got married recently against Sankara Pandian’s wishes, police said.
An argument ensued and Sankara Pandian, the personal security officer to Additional Solicitor General of India G Rajagopalan, whipped out his 9mm pistol and opened fire at Rajasekar. While some said Sankarapandian fired four rounds, police confirmed that at least two rounds were fired.
The sudden gunshots rang throught the neighbourhood, sending many scurrying for cover. Some residents, however, managed to surround Sankara Pandian, who was trying to flee, and managed to keep him there until police arrived. The law enforcers secured Sankara Pandian and recovered the department issued 9mm pistol from him. They also had tough time managing the big crowd that soon gathered at the spot as the news spread. Traffic was also affected for a few hours after a few residents blocked the stretch.
Meanwhile, Abinaya bundled her profusely bleeding husband into an autorickshaw and took him to the Adyar hospital where doctors rushed him into intensive care. Rajasekar, who is said to have been shot at close range, suffered injuries on the stomach and suffered excessive blood loss.
Inquiries revealed that Sankara Pandian was returning from duty at Rajagopalan’s house on St Mary’s Road in Abiramapuram when he saw his daughter and son-in-law.
Siva P, an auto driver who witnessed the incident, said he was still to get over the shock. “I saw bullets passing near the man’s body but only one appears to have hit him.” He said several people, including children near a mosque, may have been injured.
Another witness, M Meenakshi, who was walking on the stretch with her son, said they were lucky “How can a police officer fire in public? I have seen such actions only in Kollywood films.”