1 day Ago By A Selvaraj
Image used for representative purpose only CHENNAI: History-sheeter Kakkathope Balaji was killed in a police encounter near Vyasarpadi Jeeva railway station . The gangster Balaji, alias ‘Kakkathoppu’ Balaji, 40, was wanted in more than 40 criminal cases, including extortion and murder. A team led by the inspector of police, Buhari, was tracking the suspect.
They learnt that Balaji was hiding near B&C quarters near Vyasarpadi Jeeva railway station early on Wednesday. Police said that as he tried to escape, he attacked the police team, injuring one of the policemen. In retaliation, the police team opened fire, and he suffered bullet wounds.
He was rushed to the Govt Stanley Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead. Balaji was involved in the James murder and Kamaraj murder near Ennore. Later, Balaji had been hiding underground to avoid being targeted.
Police said he reigned over parts of north Chennai after rowdy Nagendran was convicted by the court and Ennore Dhanasekar became a jailbird, while Sambavam Senthil continued to lay underground for more than two decades. After Chennai police commissioner A Arun assumed charge in July 2024, he said he would contain rowdyism in the city. "We will speak in their language, so that they (rowdies) would understand.
" Following this, Thiruvengadam, 33, who is one of the accused in the BSP Armstrong leader murder case reported on July 5, was killed in a police encounter. He developed a close contact with the rowdy CD Mani and also maintained contacts with other rowdies in the districts. The henchmen of Sambavam Senthil attempted to kill Balaji and another gangster, CD Mani, when they were returning in their SUV near Kamarajar Arangam in Teynampet in March 2020.
However, the duo narrowly escaped as the country-made bombs went off after their vehicle had just passed by. Balaji was a native of Kakkathope near Mannadi..
