Chennai: A Dravida Munnetra Kazhagham (DMK) councillor was arrested Wednesday by Nagarasampatti police of Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu, for the alleged murder of a 29-year-old Army soldier, M Prabhu.
According to the police, on 8 February, an altercation broke out between 56-year-old DMK councillor A. Chinnasamy’s supporters and Prabhu over washing of clothes near a water tank in Pochampalli area in Krishnagiri district.
Police said that Prabhu’s sister-in-law Priya had used water from a panchayat tank, meant for drinking, to wash clothes. This led to an argument between Prabhu, who was in the village while on leave, and Chinnasamy.
Later that night, Prabhu and his brother Prabhakaran were allegedly thrashed by Chinnasamy’s family and relatives. Severely injured, Prabhu was admitted to a private hospital in Hosur, and succumbed to his injuries on 14 February, said police.
Based on a complaint filed by Prabhakaran, who also works in the armed forces, the police arrested seven people including Chinnasamy, his sons Rajapandi (27) and Guru Suriyamoorthy (25), and relatives Manikandan (30), Vediappan (40), Madhaiyan (45), Gunanithi (27).
The case, which was initially filed under Indian Penal Code sections 307 (attempt to murder), was changed to section 302 (murder) after Prabhu’s death.
A DMK source told ThePrint, “It was a personal dispute between two people. The police have taken due action. There is no political angle to it.”
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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