Chennai, October 2: A gang of around 20 men killed a businessman-film producer by hurling country-made bombs and Molotov cocktails at his car and hacking him with knives and cleavers in full public view near Sriperumbudur, on Monday morning.
Police said the assailants attacked 35-year-old P P G Kumaran in front of the Sriperumbudur town panchayat office. Kumaran, producer of the recent Tamil film 'Vaigai', was an independent councillor in Pillaipakkam town panchayat. An investigating officer said Kumaran was heading to his office when the armed gang in an SUV intercepted his car and forced his driver to stop the vehicle. The assailants flung at least three bombs at the car, leaving Kumaran and his driver Sankar incapacitated.
Members of the gang forced open the doors of the car and attacked Kumaran with knives, cleavers and crowbars. The gang also attacked his relative Mathi alias Mathialagan, who was providing security for him. The gang sped away in the SUV after the attack.
Police sent the grievously injured Kumaran, Sankar and Mathialagan to Sriperumbudur Government Hospital from where they were referred to a private hospital in Chennai. Kumaran died on the way. Mathialagan and Sankar were battling for life.
Senior police officers including IG (north zone) Kannappan and DIG Ganesamurthy visited the spot with Kancheepuram collector L Chithrasenan.
Police seized some weapons from the scene of the crime. Since Kumaran enjoyed considerable support among people, a large posse of policemen was deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Police said they are trying to ascertain if the murder was the fallout of a business or political rivalry. Kumaran was a former member of Puratchi Bharatham and later shifted allegiance to VCK. He later joined the AIADMK but was removed from the party. He contested the last local body election on his own and won. His wife Precitha is the president of Pillaipakkam panchayat.
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