The police arrested the key accused in the murder of a retired Sub Inspector, which occurred on Tuesday in Tirunelveli town, after opening fire on him when he attacked the police, on Wednesday. The key accused Mohammed Thowfiq alias Krishnamurthy, got caught at a remote area near Reddiarpatti where the police zeroed in on him after busting his hideout. Thowfiq, who suffered a gunshot wound to his left knee, was hospitalised and head constable Anand whom the accused attacked with a machete was also admitted to the hospital. In the early morning of Tuesday, Jahir Hussain Bijli (60), of Thadi Veeran Kovil Street, Tirunelveli Town was brutally murdered by an armed gang when he was returning home after offering namaz. A land dispute between Bijli and Thowfiq that fostered enmity has resulted in the brutal killing of the former and Tirunelveli Town police registered a case.