Fisherman, 33, murdered for exposing ganja peddlers at New Washermenpet

Chennai: A 33-year-old fisherman, who was a police informer, was hacked to death by a gang which suspected him of tipping off the police about ganja peddling in the neighbourhood. He was hacked outside his house at New Washermenpet on Wednesday night. Three people were arrested, while six others were detained for questioning.Police said Vinoth Kumar, a resident of Nagooran Thottam near New Washermenpet, was sitting in front of his house when a gang of nine on three bikes cornered him. They attacked him with sickles and a cricket bat. The gang fled after Vinoth Kumar collapsed in a pool of blood.On information, a team from the Kasimedu fishing harbour police sent Vinoth Kumar to Govt Stanley Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.Preliminary inquiries revealed that Vinoth Kumar tipped off police about ganja peddlers operating in the neighbourhood. Police arrested peddlers Naresh Kumar, 20, Hrithik Roshan, 19, and Gokul, 20, of Nagooran Thottam, and detained eight others for inquiry. Further investigations are on.Police said Vinoth Kumar used to ventured into the sea in power boats along with his friends and stay in the boat for at least three to four weeks before returning to the shore with the catch.