Engineering student and relative brutally murdered by illegal liquor sellers in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Feb 15 (NationPress) In a shocking incident, two young men were brutally hacked to death by illicit liquor traders in Muttam village, situated in Tamil Nadu’s Mayiladuthurai district. The victims were identified as Harish, a polytechnic graduate, and his relative Harisakthi, an engineering student. The attack took place on Saturday, February 15.

According to police reports, three bootleggers -- Rajkumar, Thangadurai, and Moovendhan -- were involved in the illegal sale of liquor on Muttam North Street. They had a reputation for threatening and assaulting anyone who questioned their operations. The Mayiladuthurai police had previously conducted a raid in the area and arrested Rajkumar, but he resumed his illicit activities shortly after being released on bail last Thursday. The violence intensified when a minor boy confronted the bootleggers regarding their illegal business. Enraged, the three men physically assaulted the boy. Observing this, Harish and Harisakthi intervened and challenged the traders.

The bootleggers retaliated by attacking them with knives, causing severe injuries. Both young men succumbed to their wounds at the location. The Perambur police responded promptly after receiving the alert. The deceased bodies were transported to Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital for post-mortem examinations.

A case was filed, and all three suspects have been apprehended. Mayiladuthurai District Superintendent of Police Stalin visited the crime scene to meet with the families of the victims.

Amid rising tensions in the area, extra police personnel were stationed at the government hospital to ensure order. The brutal double homicide has sent shockwaves through the community, leading furious locals to ransack the residences of the three accused liquor sellers.

This incident occurs during a time when Tamil Nadu’s law and order situation is under intense scrutiny, particularly following the murder of BSP Tamil Nadu President K. Armstrong on July 5, 2024. The Armstrong murder case resulted in a series of police crackdowns, leading to multiple controversial encounter killings. The primary suspect, Thiruvengadam, was reportedly killed in an alleged police encounter while being taken to Madhavaram Lake for evidence gathering.

According to police, he attempted to assault them after his handcuffs were removed, which necessitated them to open fire.

Similarly, a history-sheeter named Kakkathope Balaji, with over 60 criminal cases against him, was killed in an encounter at Vyasarpadi after he allegedly attacked police officers.

Another underworld figure, ‘Seizing’ Raja, was shot dead by Chennai Police while being transported from Andhra Pradesh.

The recent surge in encounter killings has attracted the attention of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), which has summoned Chennai City Police Commissioner M. Arun for clarification. Commissioner Arun, who took office on July 7, 2024, has adopted a hardline approach, asserting that the police will “deal with rowdies in the language they understand.”

While some perceive these police actions as essential to combating crime, others have expressed concerns regarding human rights violations and accountability in law enforcement. As Tamil Nadu continues to contend with escalating crime and law enforcement challenges, the twin murders of Harish and Harisakthi have intensified the discussion on safety, justice, and the effectiveness of policing in the state.