Tamil Nadu: Man attacked with bombs, hacked to death; PSO shoots at gang, kills 1

CHENNAI: A 50-year-old businessman was hacked to death in a case of suspected business rivalry after being attacked with crude bombs inside a temple at Maraimalai Nagar on the outskirts of the city at 6.30pm on Saturday.
His personal security officer, a policeman, opened fire at the gang, killing one of the assailants while the rest of the eight-member gang managed to escape.
Thirumaran, a local AIADMK functionary who had survived deadly attacks twice earlier, was visiting the Arulmigu Selva Muthukumara Swamy Temple along with his wife to offer prayers on his wedding anniversary. Constable Ezhilarasan was accompanying him. According to police, Thirumaran received a call on his mobile and he walked towards the temple entrance. His wife was inside the temple. The gang, which was waiting for him, hurled a bomb at him. Thirumaran escaped from it, but the gang hit him with a second one and hacked him to death. Policeman Ezhilarasan, who rushed to protect Thirumaran, opened fire at the gang in which one of the assailants identified as Suresh, 19, of Athur in Tiruvallur district, died on the spot.
Chengalpet superintendent of police Sundaravadhanam said, “The policeman opened six rounds of fire. Suresh may be a hired killer.” DIG B Shamoondeshwari, the SP and other officials visited the spot.
The Maraimalai Nagar police have registered a murder case and collected CCTV camera footage from the locality. Special teams have been formed to nab the killers.
As the policeman has opened fire, authorities have approached court for a magistrate probe. Thirumaran’s body has been sent to the Chengalpet GH for autopsy.
Thirumaran had been offering manpower service to private companies in Chengalpet and Kancheepuram, and was also involved in real estate and iron scrap business. According to police, Thirumaran had rivalry with his former business partners Rajesh and Jagan. After he realised his life was in danger, he obtained a firearm without licence in Nagaland and kept it for his personal safety. After narrowly escaping deadly attacks near Singaperumal Koil in 2016 and another one in 2017, he got an armed PSO through court for his personal safety.