Chennai: Tuesday night’s murder of Mugilan, a Left activist, who was relentlessly working against liquor and ganja seller Nagalakshmi, was the latest act of crime from the emerging gangster.
This is not the first time the city is witnessing drug pedaling woman crime bosses getting ready to soak their hands in blood. There were Krishanveni, Parameshari and Anjala, to name a few, who never thought twice before removing their obstacles in trade or personal life.
“We thought Krishnaveni, who is over 75 years old, has retired. But in September last we had to arrest her again with two sacks full of ganja. She had been selling narcotics for more than 30 years now. She has more than 40 cases, including murder, against her,” a police officer said. Nearly seven years
ago, a gang killed her son over business rivalry.
“Krishnaveni retaliated by ordering the killing of those who responsible the murder of her son. And it was executed,” he said. She had served goondas term at least five times. Krishnaveni used to procure ganja from Andhra Pradesh at a rate of Rs 4,000 per kg and bring it to city by train. She would re-distribute the same for Rs 10,000 per kg to agents in north Chennai.
Like Krishanveni, Nagalakshmi was also averse to opponents. Nagalakshmi, who had been into illegal selling of alcohol once the Tasmac shops are closed, asked her associates to eliminate Mugilan. She was also selling ganja besides delivering call girls to select officers. “They all start by selling ganja or liquor. Politicians and policemen get into their patrols over a period of time. It is easy for them to lure unemployed youths from the neighbourhood. These women, turns into godmothers, who run kangaroo courts to settle disputes. They control gangs that collect mamool and indulge in extortion,” police said.
Anjala, another woman ganja seller, after hitting the peak in her illegal business has now turned to lorry booking business in north Chennai. “We don’t think she is completely clean now. She supports her son’s illegal and criminal activities. She is still under our watch as she was earlier booked for murder,” a police officer noted.
It was in 2008 when, Parameswari, a crime queen of Sowcarpet was killed. Forty-one-year old Parameshwari was physically strong and could beat up as many as 10 men at a time. When she was hacked to death in her sleep, her rival gang was ending her two decades of her life of crime. She was supplying workforce for lorries and building contractors in one hand while on the other hand she extort businessmen and even ran a prostitution racket.
Gangster Ayodhya Kuppam Veeramani’s wife Udaya, a ganja dealer, went silent after police killed her husband in a encounter on the sands of Marina in 2003. Like her, Anu Bai, ganja queen of Alandur Road, is also not very active now, police said.
