Man hacked to death in Keela Eral

A 33-year-old man was hacked to death at Keela Eral on Sunday.

According to police, the deceased was identified as O. Periyanayakam from South Kalankarai area in Korampallam. He had attended a function in Irukkankudi along with his relatives on Sunday. It is said that at the function Periyanayakam he had a quarrel with his relatives from Ottapidaram locality, which later escalated into a scuffle.

Amid the commotion, Periyanayakam and his family left the function, travelling in a mini goods vehicle. When they reached Keela Eral, his family stopped the vehicle for a tea break. While others got down and went to a roadside shop on the opposite side, Periyanayakam remained inside the vehicle and fell asleep.

At that time, three persons allegedly followed the vehicle, assaulted Periyanayakam with sickle, in which he died, before fleeing the scene.

His relatives alerted the police. Ettayapuram police rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it for postmortem at Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital.

Preliminary investigation suspects the involvement of one of his relatives from Governagiri of Ottapidaram locality, along with his accomplice. Police have secured Mariselvam, 21, from Ottapidaram for an inquiry.

A case has been registered at Ettayapuram police station and police have launched a search operation to nab the remaining accused.

Further investigations are on.