Chennai: Eleven murders were reported from various parts of Tamil Nadu on Diwali, triggering concern over law and order in the state. The victims included a Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) of police in Theni, two 17-year-old boys and a 20-year-old IT employee in Tiruchirappalli district.
The incidents, reported from Sunday into the early hours of Monday, were unconnected, police said. Several of the killings were allegedly triggered by disputes over bursting firecrackers, intoxication and old rivalries.
In Theni, SSI K. Senthil Kumar (57) was attacked by a group of youths after he admonished them for bursting firecrackers in the middle of a road, blocking traffic, while making reels. He succumbed to his injuries on Monday.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced an ex-gratia of Rs 40 lakh for the family of the deceased officer and conveyed his condolences to his relatives and colleagues.
In Cuddalore, history-sheeter Prithiviraj was stabbed to death with a beer bottle during a clash with Arularasan. Police tracked down Arularasan, shot him in the leg and arrested him.
In Chennai's Vyasarpadi, Dhanush, an auto-rickshaw driver, was chased and hacked to death by a group of six assailants. Police said an earlier enmity was the initial reason for the attack. Dhanush had reportedly gone to question the men who had attacked his brother when he was assaulted. He died while being taken to Stanley Government Hospital.
The MKB Nagar police registered a case and formed two special teams to trace the six suspects, who are absconding. The Greater Chennai Police had deployed more than 18,000 personnel across the city for Deepavali security. Police described the Vyasarpadi killing as a targeted local conflict rather than a lapse in general crowd control.
In Tiruchirappalli district, two 17-year-old daily wage labourers, Rahul and Vishal, were hacked to death by unidentified assailants near the Pullambadi canal in Samayapuram at around 11.30 pm on Sunday. The two were walking near the Samayapuram toll plaza when they were attacked with sharp weapons. Vishal died at the scene, while Rahul succumbed to his injuries before he could be taken to hospital.
Police recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination. Forensic experts collected evidence, and investigators examined CCTV footage from the surrounding areas. Three special teams have been formed to trace the assailants. Police are probing whether the murders were linked to previous enmity or revenge.
In another incident in the district, Christopher (20), an IT employee working in Chennai who had returned to his native Purathakudi for the holidays, was allegedly stabbed to death following an argument over bursting firecrackers.
Christopher and his friends were bursting crackers on Middle Street when three local residents allegedly objected to the direction in which they were being burst.
The argument escalated into a physical altercation, during which one of the accused allegedly attacked Christopher with an iron spanner, striking him in the chest. His friend Ranjith was also injured in the attack and is undergoing treatment. The three accused are absconding.
In Perambalur district, R Ravi (50), who had gone out to celebrate Deepavali with friends, was found dead near a temple in the early hours of Monday. A 25-year-old man was also beaten to death near Aruppukottai following a clash on the festival night, while two murders were reported from Sivaganga district.
DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi criticised the state government over the deaths, accusing it of apathy. In a post on X, she said reports of 11 murders on Deepavali were shocking and referred to the deaths of the SSI, two teenagers in Samayapuram and the IT employee in Tiruchirappalli, among others.
She accused Chief Minister Joseph Vijay of failing to respond to the deaths and said several families were mourning while others celebrated the festival.
Police said several of the incidents, including the killings of the SSI and the IT employee, were triggered by intoxication, rowdy behaviour and sudden anger. Disputes over firecrackers being burst on public roads or directed towards houses reportedly escalated into fatal clashes.
In cases involving history-sheeters and gang rivalries, police said attackers took advantage of the noise of firecrackers, reduced public vigilance and festive distractions to settle old scores.
(With agency inputs from ANI and PTI)
