The victim, D. Pradeep Raj, 29, of West Mada Street, Tiruvottiyur, was working at the harbour. Around 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday, he was walking along West North Mada Street when a group of men surrounded him and attacked him with knives. He sustained severe injuries to his head and face and died on the spot.
On information, police rushed to the scene, recovered the body, and sent it to Government Stanley Hospital for postmortem. A case was registered and a special team was formed to nab the suspects.
Monetary dispute
Police sources said Pradeep Raj’s mother, Rani, had borrowed ₹9 lakh from Navaneetham, a person known to her, but had failed to repay the amount. When Navaneetham went to demand repayment on July 26, Pradeep Raj, Rani, Satheesh, Lavanya, and Dilli Babu allegedly threatened him.Following a complaint by Navaneetham, the H8 Tiruvottiyur police registered a case under sections relating to abusive language, criminal intimidation, and harassment. Pradeep Raj was arrested and remanded in judicial custody but was subsequently released on bail by the court.
Police said the two groups had been at loggerheads since then. Pradeep Raj reportedly used to install a Vinayagar idol every year opposite a tiffin shop run by Navaneetham. Anticipating trouble during this year’s Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations, the Tiruvottiyur Inspector called both sides for an inquiry on September 8.
During the inquiry, Pradeep Raj allegedly said he would not spare Navaneetham’s family, who had lodged the complaint against him. He also alleged that Navaneetham’s relative Sathya, 45, was involved in smuggling ration rice and sought police action against him. Police suspect that the exchange further aggravated the hostility between the two groups.
Mounting tensions
A few days before the murder, police received information that both Pradeep Raj and members of the rival group were mobilising supporters to attack each other. On Tuesday, police summoned Pradeep Raj to the station and warned him against indulging in anti-social activities.Following the murder, the special team led by Tiruvottiyur Inspector Alex traced four suspects who were allegedly hiding in Madhavaram. They were surrounded and arrested with patta knives.
The arrested persons were identified as Narayanan alias Naveen, 32, Hari Krishnan, 21, Jabar, 24, and Lokesh, 27. They are being interrogated at the Tiruvottiyur police station.