A long-time rivalry between two gangs - one led by V K Gurusamy of Villapuram in Madurai and the other by Rajapandi, also from Madurai, has led to yet another murder at Veppankulam in Kovilankulam police limits near Kamudhi.
Police said the accused, suspected to be members of Rajapandi gang, allegedly murdered M. Nagamani, 21, from Villapuram, Madurai, in a suspected retaliation to the murder of Pandi alias Duraipandi, 38, a history-sheeter belonging of Rajapandi gang in Madurai last month. Pandi was hacked to death by an armed gang at Valayankulam while he was returning on a two-wheeler after attending court hearing in Aruppukottai.
Suspecting the involvement of those in the Gurusamy gang for the murder, suspected Rajapandi gang members hatched a conspiracy to murder Poovalingm and Thavamani, the main accused in the Pandi murder case but ended up murdering Nagamani, police said. Police have arraigned A. Murugan alias Kuzhivetti Murugan, his brother ‘Sevittu’ Mani of K. Veppankulam and others in the murder case and launched a hunt for them.
The deceased, a native of Veppankulam, visited the village to attend a temple festival on Friday when the accused murdered him. The accused, after hacking him to death, mutilated his face, police said. The deceased, facing only a few petty cases, was targeted by the accused as he was found in the company of Poovalingam and Thavamani, police said.
One of the accused involved in the murder later called the village head on Saturday morning and said they wanted to murder Poovalingam and Thavamani and murdered Nagalingam by mistake, police said.
Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena said at least 30 murders could have taken place between the two gangs in the last 10 years. Before the murder of Pandi, S.M. Manikandan, 28, a member of Gurusamy gang, was found beheaded at Sayalkudi in January. The two gang heads, who hailed from a village near Kamudhi, maintained their ‘strength’ by luring newcomers wanting to make quick money.