Front Page

Two of a gang held for serial killings

CHENNAI: With the arrest of two suspects allegedly involved in a series of murders in the recent weeks, the city police on Thursday claimed to have solved the mystery behind the serial killings.

Police Commissioner R. Sekar said the police had achieved a breakthrough. This would put an end to fears of a psycho killer in Chennai.

Those arrested were part of a gang suspected to be involved in the successive murders that took place in K.K. Nagar, Vadapalani, Kumaran Nagar and adjoining areas.

“We have arrested the prime accused in the murders. Police are closing in on a few more suspects who were part of the gang. The murders were purely for gain and there was no other motive,” he told reporters.

A special team was patrolling the Saidapet area late on Wednesday when two persons were trying to escape after snatching a gold chain from a cycle shop owner. Police apprehended the accused who were identified as V. Subbu alias Subramani (26) of Kannamapettai Corporation Colony and S. Nagarajan alias Karuppu Nagu (26) of West Mambalam. During interrogation, they confessed to have committed two murders, including that of a watchman in K.K. Nagar on July 17.

Subbu and Nagu said their modus operandi was to go around in autorickshaws along with a few accomplices late in the night and target those sleeping on the roadside or in isolated areas.

On July 13, the gang attacked a cyclist and relieved him of Rs. 400. A couple of hours later, it targeted a man sleeping on the roadside near Ashok Pillar. It beat him up and robbed Rs. 4,000 from him and set him on fire.

The gang tried to rob the watchman of an apartment on July 17. When he offered resistance, they killed him and set his body on fire.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu