Hours after they hacked a police constable and left him with grievous injuries, police arrested six persons, including history-sheeters, while four more are on the run. The constable is undergoing treatment after suffering as many as 16 cuts on his head and face. Two of the arrested men are nursing injuries, including fractures that they suffered at the time of arrest.

The accused Aravindan and Uthayanithi with fractured limbs; Inset: Rajavel

Chennai:

Police constable Rajavelu (35) had gone to PM Dargha in Royapettah to investigate a complaint that a group of drunk men were creating trouble for the local public. 

“The men who were drunk allegedly passed lewd comments at women passing by, leading to a skirmish with local residents. 

Rajavel reached the spot around 10.45 pm, and took on the gang members. They threatened and asked him to leave, but he insisted that they should leave the place,” police sources said. Sources added the gang pelted stones at him first, and later attacked him with sickles. 

Rajavel has been admitted to Government Royapettah General Hospital where he is undergoing treatment. He is out of danger, sources said. After being informed about the attack on policeman, City Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan, additional commissioner (Law and Order - South) M C Sarangan, and other senior officers visited Rajavel at the hospital. 

Within hours of the attack, police rounded up M Aravindan (25), a history sheeter and his associates R Velmurugan (25), M Seenu (19), M Uthayanithi alias Zinda (23), R Anand (24) and R Mahesh (24) from the same locality in connection with the attack. 

Of the six, Aravindan and Uthayanithi are nursing their injuries suffered at the time of arrest – photos released later showed them with fractured limbs. Police said Aravindan is a history-sheeter facing several cases, including robbery and snatching in the Royapettah police station limits. 

Police said that they are on the lookout for four more people in connection with the case.