Chennai: One among the two persons who sustained injuries when a cinema hall owner opened fire at them in Palani on Monday, died today. Following this, the theatre owner Natarajan has been arrested under murder charges.
Sources said that Natarajan had a running feud with a farmer, Elangovan, who owns a 12 cent vacant land adjacent to the former’s property.
When Elangovan, along with his relatives–Palanisami and Subramani–came to the site to fence the property, Natarajan too came to the spot, objected to it, leading to a verbal duel.
Amid the heated altercations, Natarajan suddendly took out his licensed gun and opened fire against the trio, in which Subramani and Palanisami sustained bullet injuries.
After alterting the police, Elangovan, who escaped unhurt, and took the two to the Government Hospital for treatment. Fearing police action, Natarajan fled the scene.
Police collected the CCTV footages from the spot, which went viral in the social media, and a special team was formed, which arrested Natarajan.
Cases under various sections of the IPC, including 307 (attempt to murder) was registered against him. He was later produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.
Tension prevailed for a while when the relatives of the injured gathered in front of the hospital and demanded action against the theatre owner.
One of the injured was shifted to a private hospital in Coimbatore for advanced treatment.