AIADMK leader, son killed in revenge attack

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An armed gang late on Wednesday night waylaid the car of a senior AIADMK functionary in Sivagangai and hacked him, his nine-year-old son, six-year-old daughter and the driver. The little girl is fighting for life in hospital while the other three died.

According to Sivagangai taluk police, M.G. Kathire­san, 45, the district secretary of AIADMK student’s wing and residing at Vaa­rachandai in Sivagangai, was returning from his native Pagaianjan village with his son and daughter late on Wednesday.

While they were nearing Nedunkulam village at ar­o­und midnight, an armed gang waylaid their car and attacked them, killing Kat­h­i­resan, his son Prasa­n­na and driver Boomina­t­h­an, 30, on the spot. Dau­g­h­ter Ni­kila was admitted to a pr­ivate hospital in Ma­durai for grievous inj­u­r­ies.

The po­lice have book­ed 30 peop­le including CPI MLA from Sivangagai co­n­s­tituency S. Gunaseka­r­an and fellow co­mrade Ar­junan, who was Periya­k­annanur panchayat president more than tw­ice. Ho­wever, no arrest has been made so far. Political riv­alry is said to be the cause of the massacre.

CPI MLA Gunasekaran, on being arraigned in the multiple-murder case in Sivagangai, told this paper that it was an attempt to defame him. “He (Kathiresan) is my good friend.

In fact, I started from my home to place a wreath, but police prevented me and offered security to my house,” he added denying any involvement or knowledge of the gruesome incident. In a statement, chief minister and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa said, “Whoever was involved in the murder will be brought to books.” Ms Jayalalithaa also announced Rs 2 and Rs 1 lakh solatium to Kathiresan and driver Boominathan’s family from the party fund.

The AIADMK general secretary also assured that the party would full bear the entire medical expense of Nikhila, who is under treatment at a private hospital in Madurai.