The historic city of Madurai was rocked by two brutal murders late on Wednesday, prompting swift police action across the city and district limits. In two separate incidents, a young auto-rickshaw driver and a construction worker were killed, leading to arrests in one case and an intensive manhunt in the other.
Auto Driver Hacked to Death Near Airport, Five Arrested
In a shocking act of violence, a 25-year-old auto-rickshaw driver was hacked to death by a five-member gang near Virusamaratharani on the busy Madurai Airport Road. The incident occurred around 8 pm. The victim, identified as Muneeshwaran of Perungudi, was standing near the airport entrance when the group approached him.
Police reports indicate the assailants picked a quarrel with Muneeshwaran before suddenly pulling out a sword and attacking him. He sustained fatal head injuries and succumbed on the spot. Preliminary investigations reveal the murder was the result of an ongoing dispute between the accused and the victim's friend, Murugan. Muneeshwaran was allegedly attacked when he tried to intervene during a scuffle earlier in the day.
Following the killing, the victim's distressed relatives staged a brief road blockade on the airport road, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. This action disrupted traffic to the airport until senior police officials assured them of prompt action. The body was later shifted to Government Rajaji Hospital for post-mortem.
In a swift response, Avaniyapuram police registered a case and arrested five auto drivers. The arrested individuals are Thirumurugan (32), Arunachalam (32), Karthick (28), Sakthivel (23) of Valayangulam, and Thandapani.
Construction Worker Stabbed Near TASMAC Outlet
In a separate and equally tragic incident, a construction worker was stabbed to death near Kottampatti in Madurai district, also on Wednesday night. The victim, Ananda Raj (29), a native of Thiruchuli in Virudhunagar district, was staying in Kottampatti for construction work on a Union office building.
According to police, he was attacked by unidentified assailants near a government-run TASMAC liquor outlet while returning after purchasing liquor. The assailants stabbed him multiple times, leading to his death on the spot. His body was sent to Melur Government Hospital for autopsy.
Kottampatti police have registered a case and launched a comprehensive search operation to trace the suspects involved in this brutal killing.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigations
The Madurai police have demonstrated a two-pronged approach in response to these back-to-back crimes. While they have successfully apprehended five suspects in the airport road murder, a dedicated manhunt is underway for the killers of the construction worker in Kottampatti.
These incidents have highlighted concerns over public safety in certain areas. The police have assured the public that investigations are progressing rapidly in both cases to ensure justice is served. The community awaits further developments as authorities work to uncover the full motives behind these violent acts and prevent such tragedies in the future.
