Chennai: A couple of days after an encounter in which a chain snatcher from Jharkhand was shot dead in Kancheepuram on Monday, the Tamilnadu police have now intensified search for another pistol-wielding gang that is on the prowl in the district.
According to the police, this two-member gang was behind the 4 October shooting at an Oragadam Tasmac outlet that left one staff member dead and another injured.
‘Search has been intensified and we are hopeful of catching them,’ police sources said.
A 28-year-old man, identified as Murthaza of Jharkhand and accused of snatching chains and opening fire to chase away his pursuers, was gunned down in an alleged encounter with the police in Mevalurkuppam village near Sriperumbudur. His associate Naem Akthar, 39, was arrested.
Kancheepuram DIG Sathya Priya said, ‘He had a country-made pistol as well and he attempted to kill the Sub-Inspector and that’s when injured officer shot him dead.’
When asked if the police officer should have tried to immobilise him by shooting below his knee, she said: ‘His life was at risk. He couldn’t have done that’.
On Sunday, the two men attacked a 55-year-old woman and snatched her chain while she was standing at the Sriperambudur toll place to catch a bus. As the woman didn’t let go off the chain and witnesses nearby tried to help her, one of accused pulled out a gun and fired in the air. This caused widespread panic among the public and the two accused later fled from the scene.
Explaining the massive operation, Sathya Priya added, ‘We had deployed a large number of police personnel including teams from neighbouring Thiruvallur. Even drones were used. We cordoned off the whole area at night’.