Chennai: A 24-year-old man was hacked to death by a gang in broad daylight in Mannadi on Wednesday. The deceased was a local rowdy and was returning after appearing before a magistrate in the George Town court complex when the incident happened, police sources said.
The deceased was identified as J. Vijayakumar alias Viji of Pallavan Nagar 1st Street in Tondiarpet. Police said that Viji took odd jobs as a boat repair mechanic in the Kasimedu fishing harbour. He also had several criminal cases, including an attempt to murder case, against him.
On Wednesday, he had appeared before a magistrate in George Town court in connection with an earlier case and was returning home when he was hacked to death.
Police sources said that Viji was riding along Pavalathar street in Mannadi when a six member gang intercepted him. They picked up an argument with Viji and subsequently the verbal duel escalated into a brawl.
All of a sudden, the gang unleashed the weapons they were carrying and rained blows on Viji. He was killed on the spot, police sources said.
A team from the Muthialpet police station rushed to the scene to secur Viji’s body and move it to the Rajiv Gandhi Government general hospital for autopsy.
Preliminary investigations have suggested that previous enmity to have led to the murder. Investigations are underway in Kasimedu fishing harbour where Viji used to work, police sources said.
