Chennai police informer killed by chain-snatching jailbirds

Chennai: A 35-year-old man, T. Benny was allegedly murdered by two chain snatching accused near Sunguvar Chathiram in Kancheepuram district, 50 km from the city, after they had learned that Benny had squealed on them to the cops.

A native of Thirumazhisai near Poonamalee, Benny was living in the community hall in the Molachur village near Sunguvar Chathiram for the past ten years. He is separated from his wife and children, police said. Benny, who worked as a painter, was also a police informer, giving out information about petty criminals and thieves to the local police.

On Thursday evening, two men, Ramraj and Vinodh, who have been recently come out of jail in connection with a chain snatching case, had approached the community hall where Benny was talking with a friend. "The duo had learnt that Benny had informed the cops about them, which led them to being jailed," according to a source.

Seeing the duo charging towards them with weapons, Benny ran into the community hall and locked himself in the groom's room. However, the duo managed to get into the room and dragged him out and attacked him with deadly weapons.

A passerby alerted the police about seeing his body after which Sunguvar Chathiram police moved the body to the Sriperumbudur GH for an autopsy. Later in the day, Benny's younger brother received his body after an autopsy. Police have launched a hunt for the absconding duo.