Chennai, February 17: A suspect in chain-snatching cases, Kaviarasu alias Kaviarasan (30), and his accomplice Murugan alias ‘Kalmandayan’ Murugan (28) of Usilampatti in Madurai district, were shot dead by the police in an encounter near Silaiman police check-post in Madurai rural district on Tuesday.
After a series of chain-snatching offences were reported in Madurai city and its periphery, Madurai City Commissioner of Police P. Balasubramanian had formed special teams to monitor the movement of suspects.
Night patrolling was introduced, and police personnel were deployed to check vehicles at different locations during day-time as chain-snatching cases were reported in many busy and suburban locations in the recent past. The two persons, who moved on stolen two-wheelers, targeted women who were alone.
Inspector-General of Police (south zone) S.S. Krishnamoorthy told reporters that around 12.15 p.m. a team, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vellathurai, spotted the duo on a two-wheeler at the check-post. Murugan and Kaviarasu stopped, but started attacking the police with deadly weapons, leaving Keerathurai Sub-Inspector of Police Thennarasu injured. The team retaliated by opening fire from a pistol, and both of them suffered serious injuries. At the Government Rajaji Hospital where they were taken, they were declared ‘brought dead’.
The Silaiman police have registered a case. An inquiry by the Revenue Divisional Officer has been ordered.
Mr. Krishnamoorthy said Kaviarasu, the son of a former police constable, had over 100 cases, including chain-snatching, robbery, burglary and rape pending against him in Madurai, Theni, Tirupur and Coimbatore. Both of them came out on bail in January. Deputy Commissioners of Police J. Rajendran, P.C. Thenmozhi and V. Jeyashri were at the site where the encounter took place.
According to police sources, Kaviarasu’s modus operandi was to rent a house in a busy locality. To avoid raising suspicion, he would come in the company of a woman. During the day he would look out for locked homes and strike at night. On some occasions he barged into homes where senior citizens lived alone.
Kaviarasu used to attack those who raised an alarm. After committing the crime, he would escape to another town and remain in hiding for a fortnight, Ms. Jeyashri told.
On February 8, contract killer Pandi alias ‘Dindigul’ Pandi and his accomplice Velu alias ‘Gudvancheri’ Velu were shot dead in an encounter at Neelankarai near Chennai.
—–Agencies