Four arrested for bludgeoning two men to death in Tiruvallur

The police on Saturday arrested four persons in connection with the murder of two men, including a private bank staff, who were bludgeoned to death following an altercation over rash riding in Manavalanagar near Tiruvallur.

The arrested have been identified as Neelakandan, 30, Jyotish, 34, Vinothkumar, 36, and Jawahar, 23.

The victims, along with their friend, were returning from a short trip on a motorcycle when the accused, who were in an inebriated state, waylaid and attacked them. 

One of the deceased has been identified as Parthiban, 32 of Ottikuppam near Manavalanagar, who was working at a private bank in Sevvapet. He and his friends Sukumar and Kesavan had gone to Andhra Pradesh to celebrate Pongal.

On their way back on Friday night, as they approached their village at 10.30 p.m., they were waylaid by four persons, who had been creating a ruckus on the roadside. A quarrel soon erupted when they questioned the trio over their reckless driving. Following a heated exchange of words, the four men threw concrete slabs at the motorcyclists. 

Parthiban died on the spot and the other two were severely injured. They were rushed them to the Government Tiruvallur Hospital by passers-by. Later, Kesavan succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. 

On Saturday morning, the relatives of the deceased protested on the Tirupati-Chennai highway, demanding the arrest of the accused involved. The traffic on the stretch was affected. The protesters dispersed only after the police officers assured them of quick action. 

The Manavalanagar police registered a case in connection with the murder and arrested the accused following an investigation.

Two of the accused sustained fractures while attempting to escape police apprehension. After receiving medical treatment, all four were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.