DMK functionary hacked to death by armed gang near Trichy

TRICHY: A 38-year-old DMK functionary and town panchayat ward councillor was hacked to death by an armed gang near Trichy on Monday night.

Police are investigating the incident and are on the lookout for the perpetrators.

The victim was identified as A. Ranjith Kumar, 38, from Bharathipuram in Koothappar, Thiruverumbur block, Trichy district. He served as the councillor for Ward 11 of Koothappar Town Panchayat and as the youth wing secretary of DMK's town panchayat unit in Thiruverumbur.

According to sources, Ranjith Kumar was returning home on his two-wheeler around 10 pm on Monday. While passing Puthu Theru near Navalpattu, the gang waylaid him on motorcycles.

The assailants attacked him with sharp weapons, striking various parts of his body. They then fled the scene.

Ranjith Kumar collapsed in a pool of blood and died on the spot.

Navalpattu police rushed to the scene upon receiving information and sent the body to Trichy Government Hospital for post-mortem.

A forensic team and a dog squad were called to collect evidence.

Trichy District Superintendent of Police S. Selva Nagarathinam and other officials visited the crime scene and oversaw the initial investigation. Special teams have been formed to apprehend the perpetrators.

Sources said Ranjith Kumar ran a bar attached to a government TASMAC shop opposite the Government ITI in Thiruverumbur.

Navalpattu police registered a case under Section 101 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder.

Police suspect business rivalry as a possible motive. As of Tuesday, several people have been detained, and investigations are ongoing.