Tenkasi-Tirunelveli attack: 11 accused held; one shot after assaulting cop

Tenkasi/Tirunelveli: Police probing a series of bike-borne attacks across Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts have so far arrested 11 accused, including one, who was shot in the leg after attacking a head constable with a sickle while resisting arrest on Sunday.According to police sources, in continuation of the probe into a series of bike-borne attacks in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts, police secured another accused, Ayyappan of Nettur.Acting on specific inputs, a special team of police traced him to the North Ariyanayagipuram near Arasangulam area. When head constable Muthukumar attempted to apprehend him, Ayyappan attacked him with a sickle on his right forearm, causing a severe cut injury, prompting police to open fire in self-defense.Further, Ayyappan sustained a gunshot injury on his right leg below the knee, and both were rushed to the government hospital in Cheranmahadevi.Tirunelveli district superintendent of police Dr V Prassanna Kumar visited him. Later, both the injured accused and police personnel were shifted to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for further treatment.Subsequently, police arrested Nalaiyiram alias Eli, 20, and Maruthupandi alias Kaivarisaipandi, 31, on Sunday.Earlier police had arrested Isakkimuthu, 19 , Mariyappan, 20 , Piramuthu, 21 , Naveen, 20, Sanjay alias Shanmugamuthu, 19, and three minors.It is recalled that a series of violent attacks by a bike-borne gang began on Thursday (May 28) within the Ambasamudram police station limits. A 29-year-old man, Manikandan, was intercepted by the gang in the Brahmadesam area and allegedly assaulted while the suspects attempted to extort money from him. When he resisted, his left finger was slashed before the gang fled. Later, they attempted to target a sculpture workshop owned by Selva Ganesan at Vaagaikulam but escaped after finding it locked.Separate cases were registered at Ambasamudram, Alangulam, and Manur police stations. Officials denied caste motives, citing prior enmity, and said charges under the Arms Act, SC/ST Act, and BNS Section 109 were invoked.