Madurai: Two notorious rowdies were shot dead by the police in an exchange of fire at Sikkandar Chavadi here on Thursday evening.
Madurai SP, N. Manivannan told reporters after visiting the encounter site that a special police team had rounded up the house following tip-off that the two criminals, 'Saguni' Karthik and 'Manthiri' Muthu Irulandi, were hiding there. When the police tried to nab them, one of the rowdies opened fire. The police retaliated in self-defence and shot dead both the criminals, the SP said.
Police recovered a pistol from the house. The two bodies were sent to the Government Rajaji Hospital for postmortem.
The two rowdies were wanted for several criminal offences, including six murder cases, attempt to murder, extortion and armed robbery in Madurai and Ramanathapuram districts.
SP Manivannan has ordered deployment of a large posse of cops at Sikkandar Chavadi following the encounter that caused visible anxiety, even panic, among the locals.
It may be recalled that the police shot dead dreaded history-sheeter Karthigaisamy (35) in an encounter at Nainapuram near Uppar in Sivaganga district on January 11, 2017.
