Date:17/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/17/stories/2008051759650700.htm

Tamil Nadu

Five done to death near Jayamkondam

R. Krishnamoorthy

Two of the victims were beheaded, others hacked

— Photo: M. Moorthy

ON THEIR JOB: Forensic science experts examining the scene of murder at Vangudi in Ariyalur district on Friday.

JAYAMKONDAM: Five persons, including a 60-year-old man and his two sons, were murdered by a gang in Vangudi village near Jayamkondam in Ariyalur district on Friday. Two of the victims were beheaded by the assailants and the other three hacked. Tension and panic gripped the village and several male residents fled the Dalit colony.

The killings were believed to be in retaliation for the murder of a village youth, Desingh Bala, in October 2007. Four of the victims in Friday’s killings were accused in the murder case.

Desingh Bala’s murder and Friday’s killings were attributed to a running feud between two groups, both from the same community, over administrative rights of the Kaliamman temple in the village. The groups were also believed to have had animosity over the selection of beneficiaries under the rehabilitation scheme for bootleggers in the village. On Friday morning, the assailants, numbering about 10, cornered the victims – Kasinathan (60), his sons Mahalingam (24) and Dharmalingam (35) and their relatives Prabhu (24) and Suresh (22) – in different parts of the village and attacked them.

The head of one of the victims was found stuck on the trident in front of the temple. Kasinathan’s wife Janaki was also attacked and has been referred to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

Eight persons have been picked up in connection with the killings and police are on the look out for two others, including a former panchayat president.

Inspector General of Police (Central Zone) Karan Singha, Collector R. Sudalai Kannan and Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tiruchi range, Ashok Kumar Das, visited the village and appealed for calm. Perambalur Superintendent of Police Prem Anand Sinha, in-charge of Ariyalur district, said the murders were pre-planned.