Police deny communal angle in Ramanathapuram murder

Following the social media ire over the murder of a youth named Arun Prakash who was hacked to death in broad day light by unidentified men, the Ramanathapuram police have denied communal angle and have stated personal enmity as the reason for the murder.

Arun Prakash (22) along with his friend Yogeshwaran (23) belonging to the same area were standing and talking outside an ATM on the afternoon of August 31 when a gang of 9 persons had come in 3 motorbikes and stabbed both of them. Arun Prakash succumbed to the injuries while Yogeshwaran remains critical in a private hospital.

A report published by an online news portal quoted the Superintendent of Police saying that the murder was due to enmity between two gangs and that some people are trying to give it a communal colour. He also stated that the accused involved in the murder belong to multiple religions.

It also reported quoting the Deputy Superintendent of Police that Arun was not even the original target. The DSP had said that Arun Kumar was part of a gang led by one Kamatchi. Both the gangs supposedly had a verbal altercation that became physical. Apparently, the gang had targeted Kamatchi but he wasn’t to be found. The gang then found Arun and his friend and attacked them.

It is also being said that both the gangs are rival drug peddlers and that murder could have happened over this rivalry.

The Hindu Munnani has said that while the exact reason for the murder stands unclear one of the accused Sheikh had tried to attack one of its functionaries earlier.

Inputs from: The News Minute