A notorious history-sheeter from Dindigul was shot dead during a police operation carried out by the Coimbatore City Police Special Task Force in Tiruchy on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Rajasekar (32), a resident of the North Madurai area in Dindigul district. Police said he was a wanted criminal with more than 80 cases registered against him, including robbery, chain snatching and theft, at the Dindigul North Police Station and other police stations in Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchy districts.
As Rajasekar had been absconding for a long time, police teams from various districts were on the lookout for him. Based on specific information that he was hiding in Tiruchy, a four-member special team from the Coimbatore City Police Commissionerate reached the city to arrest him.
According to police sources, the special team surrounded Rajasekar, who was hiding in a house at Srinivasa Nagar in the Edamalaipatti Pudur area of Tiruchy. When the police attempted to arrest him, Rajasekar allegedly threatened them with a sickle and attacked the personnel.
In the attack, Assistant Sub-Inspector Bhaskar and Grade-I Police Constable Kannan sustained cut injuries after being assaulted with the sickle. To defend themselves, Assistant Sub-Inspector Bhaskar reportedly opened fire, shooting Rajasekar in the left thigh and later in the rib.
On receiving information, Edamalaipatti Pudur police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured policemen and Rajasekar to the Tiruchy Government Medical College Hospital. Rajasekar, however, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is under way. Senior police officials said all procedures are being followed in connection with the firing incident.
