Cop dismissed from service now held for murder

COIMBATORE: A 49-year-old former police constable, who had been dismissed from the department on disciplinary grounds, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly murdering a 32-year-old wall painter at Selvapuram in the city. According to police, he attacked the man with a wooden log and the victim fell unconscious. He was rushed to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where he died without responding to treatment.
The deceased has been identified as R Jayaseelan (32) of Shanmugapuram in Thoothukudi district who worked in Coimbatore. M Muruganandam of Singampatti in Madurai district, was a constable with the armed reserve police in Madurai who had been dismissed from service on disciplinary grounds in 1989.
Police said Jayaseelan’s wife had filed a divorce petition in a court in Thoothukudi district following which Jayaseelan left home a few months ago and came to Coimbatore. He was working under contractor S Rajasekar (35) of Thiru Nagar at Selvapuram in the city. Muruganandam, who is unmarried also had left home a few years ago and was working under the same contractor.
Jayaseelan and Muruganandam were engaged in work at a house at Najappa Gounder Thottam on Bypass road in Selvapuram and they resided together at the work site. The police said the duo quarreled frequently over work-related issues, as Muruganandam was not a good worker.
On Sunday evening, the duo consumed liquor together at their work site and Muruganandam asked Jayaseelan for money to buy liquor. When he refused a quarrel erupted between them. In a fit of rage Muruganandam attacked Jayaseelan with a wooden log and he was severely injured. Though he was rushed to the hospital he died without responding to treatment.
Initially, Selvapuram police registered a case under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against Muruganandam. Later, the case was altered to 302 (murder) of IPC and arrested Muruganandam who has been lodged in Coimbatore Central Prison.