Murder accused hacked to death in front of Tamil Nadu court

A murder accused, out on bail, was hacked to death in front of a Tirunelveli district court in Tamil Nadu. The victim, involved in a prior murder case, was attacked by a gang wielding sickles who mutilated his face. Police apprehended one assailant at the scene and arrested four others shortly after.

MADURAI: A murder accused, 25, was hacked to death in front of Tirunelveli district court premises in Tamil Nadu on Friday as he was coming to appear in a case. The murderers mutilated the man's face before fleeing. Police and advocates overpowered one assailant while four others were arrested soon after.

Deceased S Mayandi alias Palla Mayandi was one of the main accused in the murder of dalit panchayat ward member N Rajamani, 32, of Keelanatham on Aug 13 last year. Mayandi was arrested by police within days, and city police slapped Goondas Act on him in Sept 2023. He came out on bail in Jan.

On Friday, Mayandi was coming to the district court to appear in a case pending against him when the gang rounded him up. He evaded them and run towards the court. A special SI tried to stop one of the men wielding sickles but others caught up with Mayandi and hacked him.

Condemning the murder, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, AMMK leader TTV Dinakaran and VK Sasikala accused state govt of failing to maintain law and order..