Three arrested for murder in Vaniyambadi town

Angry over Chandru’s death, his relatives stormed the hospital and also damaged the houses of the accused. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Three people were arrested on Thursday in connection with the murder of a drummer during a temple festival in Vaniyambadi town near Tirupattur.

Police said the arrested persons have been identified as R. John, 30, S. Sridhar, 35, and K. Karthik, 31, all childhood friends from Konamedu village near the city.

The victim, S. Chandru, 18, was living with his uncle K. Venkatesh in his house at Kamarajapuram in Vaniyambadi municipality limits after losing his parents in his childhood. He used to perform at local temple festivals, the police added.

On Wednesday night, Chandru was performing at a festival at a temple in the city when a few people asked him to stop playing drums as these musical instruments were not allowed at such festivals. However, when Chandru told them that the event organisers had invited him to perform at the festival, an argument broke out. The three gang members stabbed Chandru and fled the scene.

The devotees immediately took the injured Chandru to the Taluk Government Hospital, where doctors declared him “dead on arrival”. Furious over Chandru’s death, his relatives rushed to the hospital and also damaged the houses of the accused.

A large police team, led by Shreya Gupta, Commissioner of Police, Tirupattur, reached the spot and calmed the agitated families and residents of the area. Special teams were formed to apprehend the accused. Later, the trio was arrested and produced before the local court. They have been lodged in a sub-jail in Tirupattur city and an investigation is underway.