5 murders reported in Madurai on Diwali day

MADURAI: Crime escalated in Madurai on Diwali day with five murders taking place in various parts of the district, most of them under the influence of alcohol. Police sources said that among those killed were a 17-year-old boy, an auto driver, a coolie and a loadman.
Sekar, 17, son of Arockiadose of Ellis Nagar in Madurai city, was found dead with his head smashed.There had been enmity between Arockiadose and Muthupandi, 23, son of Samidurai of Vaigam Periyar Nagar as the former’s daughter had been in love with the latter. Samidurai, his son Muthupandi and relative Selvakumar are suspected to have abducted the teenager and murdered him by smashing his head with stone. Silaiman police are investigating.
In another incident, Manikandan, 39, a coolie of Keelnatchikulam near Sholavandan, got into a brawl with a gang in the region on Wednesday. They attacked him before the local people intervened and stopped the fight. However, when his brother Senthil visited him on Thursday morning, he was shocked to see him dead with his head smashed. He informed the Sholavandan police who registered a case. In another incident, Chelladurai, 27, a loadman from Mullipallam village near Sholavandan who had many cases pending against him, was found dead on the Manadimangalam road on Wednesday afternoon. He was found to have been assaulted with a bill hook and knife. Kadupatti police have registered a case.
An auto driver, Marimuthu, 34, of Melavasal, was also found murdered with his throat slit near the Periyar bus stand on Wednesday. Police said that he had got into a quarrel with some people and Marimuthu’s brother had come to his support. The gang is suspected to have murdered Marimuthu following the clash.
Another murder, under the influence of liquor, occurred near a bathing tank in Ammankoilpatti near Melur. Police said that Bharathkumar, 25 and Balamurugan, 23, sons of Pandiselvam, had been bathing in the tank when some men from their village including P Rajapandi and Naveen Raj picked up a fight with them on Tuesday. The next day, the two brothers were in their village circle when Rajapandi, Naveen Raj and some others picked up a quarrel with them. They broke the beer bottles they had in their possession and stabbed Balamurugan on the neck with a broken one. He died on the way to hospital. Keelavalavu police have registered a case.