DMK functionary shoots brother dead over property dispute

MADURAI: 'Billa' Jegan, the youth wing organiser of DMK Tuticorin South District shot his brother dead over a property dispute in the wee hours of Tuesday. Tuticorin North Police is on the lookout for the accused, a strong supporter of Tiruchendur MLA and the Tuticorin South District secretary of the party Anitha R Radhakrishnan.

According to the police, preliminary inquiries revealed that Jegan, (aged around 50 years), a resident of Chinnakadai Streer and his brother Simanji, 34, had a property dispute and it erupted once again on Monday night. As the argument went out of control, shortly after midnight, Jegan shot at Simanji’s thigh.

Suffering in pain the victim became unconscious and later died due to excessive bleeding. The deceased's body was sent to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. A search was on for the accused and inquiries underway if the gun was a licensed weapon.

The police said it would still be an offence if he had a licensed weapon in his possession as those with licensed guns have been instructed to surrender in view of the model code of conduct that is in effect. The accused will be booked for illegal possession of the weapon in addition to the murder charge, they added.

This murder has taken place with less than a month left for bypoll in Ottapidaram assembly segment in Tuticorin district.

Jegan and Simanji are accused in the murder of a youth Sachin who was reportedly stalking Jegan’s daughter in May 2017. The duo and accomplices were arrested on charges of murder by stabbing him multiple times in the car. They were granted bail a few days later and the case is under trial.