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Rising Menace Of “Patta-Kathi” (Machete Knives) Culture Witnessed In Tamil Nadu

The Commune

The law enforcement situation appears to have deteriorated in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, with reports indicating a rise in the prevalence of swords among youths, particularly this trend has escalated to instances of extortion and retaliatory killings, causing significant concern among residents who now fear for their safety when venturing outside.

Gautham, a 27-year-old resident of Srirampet Street, Saidapet, Chennai, was attacked in his home late last night on 15 May 2024 by a group of six assailants wielding swords (Patta Kathi), while he was asleep with his wife Priya and their two children. Tragically, Gautham succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Priya, shocked by the brutality of the attack, promptly alerted the local police, who swiftly arrived and took custody of Gautham’s body, arranging for it to undergo an autopsy at Royapettah Government Hospital.

Initial inquiries by the police have uncovered Gautham’s criminal record, which includes pending cases, including murder, registered at Teynampet police station. Furthermore, investigators suspect a potential motive for the attack stemming from a past conflict between Gautham and Rajkiran, Priya’s previous husband. The authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity in hopes of identifying the perpetrators. This shocking incident, witnessed by Gautham’s family, has sent shockwaves through the community of Saidapet.

On 14 May 2024, a widely circulated video on social media drew attention to a disturbing incident, Chennai youths wielding swords were seen assaulting a stall and demanding money through extortion. The footage, captured by CCTV cameras, depicts a group of thugs brandishing knives while targeting various shops along Ramanujam Street in Washermenpet, Chennai. Among the establishments affected were clothing stores, shoe shops, and fast food restaurants.

In one instance, on 13th May night, a gang comprising six individuals entered a shoe store owned by Husain in the vicinity, demanding money at knifepoint. Husain, the shopkeeper, reportedly refused to comply, prompting the gang to attack him before fleeing the scene. Subsequently, the gang targeted other shops in the area, launching assaults on their owners with knives before making their escape. The release of the CCTV footage depicting these violent incidents has stirred apprehension among local traders.

While merchants in the area are attributing the rise in such incidents to inadequate police patrolling, law enforcement authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter, having registered a case in response to the attacks.

On the same day, May 14th, another incident occurred where the police were notified by a conductor of an SETC bus. The conductor discovered a machete and a pistol left behind on the bus by an unidentified individual.

The incident occurred in a bus operated by the Tirunelveli Road Transport Corporation when it arrived in Tirunelveli from Chennai at around 11:00 PM. The bus, equipped with beds and air conditioning, was driven by Rajendran. According to the driver and operator, several passengers who had booked their tickets boarded the bus at various stops along the route.

Upon arrival at Tirunelveli New Bus Station at 11:20 AM the following day, the bus dropped off the passengers and proceeded to a workshop in the Tirunelveli’s Vannarpettai area for cleaning. During the cleaning process, workshop staff discovered a pistol and a sickle beneath bed number 9 and promptly notified their superiors. The Palayamkottai police were subsequently informed.

Upon receiving the information, the police arrived at the workshop, confiscated the weapons, and questioned the bus driver and conductor regarding the passengers’ details. Forensic experts were then called in to examine the seized weapons and gather fingerprints from the seat. The Palayamkottai police are currently investigating whether the pistol and machete were brought onto the bus by passengers or placed there by someone else.

(With Inputs From ETVBharat)

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