Rowdy hacked to death in Kottakuppam

A notorious history-sheeter was brutally hacked to death by an armed gang at Kottakuppam near Puducherry late on Tuesday night, triggering panic in the border town and prompting police to intensify investigations by questioning the victim’s close associates.
The deceased, Appu, aged 24, hailed from MGR Nagar in Chinnakottakuppam, a Tamil Nadu locality adjacent to Puducherry.
Police sources said he had over ten criminal cases pending against him, including two murder cases, assault charges and ganja-related offences.
In October last year, Puducherry police arrested him following a complaint related to a bakery dispute in Muthialpet.
He was lodged in jail and released on bail about a month ago. According to police, Appu was consuming alcohol around 10 p.m. at a relatively deserted spot in Kottakuppam along with Balaganesh of the Kottaimedu area and Chinnapillai.
At that time, a gang of nearly ten men arrived on two motorcycles, surrounded Appu and launched a sudden attack using deadly weapons such as knives and sickles.
As Appu attempted to flee, he was repeatedly hacked, sustaining grievous injuries and bleeding to death on the spot.
The assailants escaped immediately after the murder.
On receiving information, Kottakuppam Deputy Superintendent of Police Rupan Kumar, Inspector Viswanathan and Sub-Inspector Raju rushed to the scene.
The body was recovered and sent to Kanakachettikulam Beams Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Initial investigations revealed that Appu had longstanding enmity with a gang from Karuvadikuppam in Puducherry following a dispute during a funeral procession five years ago.
Police suspect that the murder was an act of revenge, allegedly carried out by a gang led by known rowdies Palluvikki, Hemanath and Surender Sanjeev.
Balaganesh and Chinnapillai have been taken into custody and are being questioned at a secure location on suspicion of having tipped off Appu’s rivals.
Further investigation is under way.