Dalit murder: Accused were friends of Kowsalya’s father

Thanks to effective CCTV monitoring across the district, Tirupur police were able to arrest the five accused in connection with the recent murder of a dalit youth married to a thevar woman, on Tuesday. The footage clearly showed the accused brutally carrying out the murder in broad daylight in Udumalpet on Sunday evening.

Initial investigation has revealed that all five accused were friends of Chinnasamy, father of the thevar woman Kowsalya. The arrested people are M Manikandan, 25, a construction worker from Ramar Kovil Street in Palani, P Jagadeeshan, 31, a car driver, M Michael alias Madhan, a load man, P Selvakuamr, 25, a load man, all hailing from Dindigul and M Manikandan, 39, from Anna Nagar in Pattiveeranpatti, Dindigul district. Manikandan was arrested for harbouring the accused in his house. One more accused, Thangaraj, is absconding.

Kowsalya's mother Annalakshmi and her maternal uncle Pandidurai, who runs a Tasmac bar in Oddanchathram, are also absconding. Udumalpet police registered a case against the accused under sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 307 (attempt to murder), 302 (murder), and 109 (punishment of abettment if the act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment) of the Indian Penal Code and under section 3 (2) (v) (a) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Kowsalya's father Chinnasamy, 39, surrendered before a judicial magistrate court at Nilakottai in Dindigul district on Monday. He was remanded to judicial custody till March 21. He has been lodged at Madurai central prison. Police said Chinnasamy ran a travel agency in Palini. Jagadeeshan, the main accused, worked as a driver at the agency. He was also a close friend of Chinnasamy.

Chinnasamy hatched a conspiracy with Jagadeeshan, who was charged with murder in 2013, to kill both Shankar and his daughter. Receiving an advance of 50,000, Jagadeeshan executed the murder along with his accomplices at Udumalpet. "We have seized two motorcycles, four deadly weapons and 40,000 from the accused. A detailed investigation is on," said a senior police officer.

Meanwhile, police were forced to conduct a lathicharge in Kumaralingam on Monday when relatives of V Shankar, 22, the deceased dalit youth, refused to let the police cremate the body. 

Water Levels Rise in Major Dams Across Coimbatore and Tiruppur Districts Following Rainfall

Water levels have increased in five major dams across Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts as of May 3, due to continuous i...

Karpagam Pharmacy College Convocation 2026 Celebrates 325 Graduates

Karpagam Pharmacy College held its convocation ceremony on May 2 at Oththakkal Mandapam in Coimbatore. Dr. V. Kalaiselva...

Chithra Pournami Pilgrimage: Devotee Dies While Climbing Velliangiri Hills

A 34-year-old devotee died after collapsing while climbing the Velliangiri Hills during the Chithra Pournami pilgrimage....

NEET 2026 Conducted at 16 Centres in Coimbatore; 7,181 Candidates Appear

A total of 7,181 candidates, including 298 government school students, are appearing for NEET 2026 across 16 centres in...

Evening Thunderstorms Likely Across Coimbatore Over Next 3 Days

Coimbatore to experience hot mornings and increasing evening thunderstorm activity over the next three days, with clouds...

Coimbatore Press Club flags irregularities in issuing media passes for covering election counting

Coimbatore Press Club has alleged discrepancies in issuance of media passes for polling and counting, urging the Chief E...