COIMBATORE: A youth was murdered by a four-member gang that waylaid him near Coimbatore International Airport and attempted to snatch his mobile phone on Thursday night.
The deceased has been identified as Vignesh, 24, a native of Theni district. He was working as a supervisor in a private firm on the Kalapatti road in Coimbatore city and was staying in a rental house at Poonga Nagar.
T Sujit, 30, of Valparai, who is working as a tractor driver for a private airline company at the airport, was staying with Vignesh.
Around 11.30pm, the duo were heading towards Ondipudur on a motorcycle to meet a friend. Vignesh rode the motorcycle while Sujit was riding pillion on it.
When they were near SIHS Colony, four unidentified men waylaid them and asked them to hand over their mobile phones. Sujit handed over his mobile phone to the gang. The gang members also asked Vignesh to give his mobile phone, but he refused. One of the gang members stabbed Vignesh on his neck.
Sujith, who managed to escape, brought his friends back to the crime scene where they found Vignesh struggling for life. They took him to a private hospital on a motorcycle. Vignesh died without responding to treatment.
Police said the gang had earlier intercepted Kailash of SIHS Colony who was going home from the airport. However, he managed to escape from the spot and informed the police control room.
“We have formed four special teams to nab the murderers,” commissioner of police Sumit Sharan said.