16 police teams launch search for murderer on the loose in Salem

SALEM: In separate incidents, an unidentified man has killed two men sleeping on the roadside in the city in the past two days.
Deputy commissioner (crime and traffic) of city police S Senthil said on both occasions, the man used boulders to smash his victims’ head. “But the reason for his actions is yet to be ascertained.” He said 16 special police teams are searching for the accused.
On Tuesday morning, A Angamuthu, 85, of Sadagoban Street of Ponnammapet, was found dead in front of a commercial complex near old bus stand with his head smashed with boulder, a police officer attached with the Salem town police station said.The victim was working in a fruit shop and used to sleep outside the shop.
When police checked CCTV footage from nearby shops, they found the accused throwing a boulder on Angamuthu’s head. “We were shocked as the accused had killed a 39-year-old alms seeker at Kasakaranur on Sunday night. He was caught on camera throwing a boulder on the unidentified victim’s head,” the police officer said.
“We will intensify patrolling in the night as the killings happened between 11.30pm and 3am,” the deputy commissioner said, adding, “We don’t know the motive. He could have some mental illness.”
Police have registered two separate cases.