Erode history-sheeter murder: Two more surrender in court, five detained for questioning

The Coimbatore district police detained five persons from Salem for questioning on Thursday (March 20, 2025), in connection with the murder of a history-sheeter in broad daylight near Nasiyanur on the Salem-Coimbatore National Highway in Erode district on Wednesday.

The Erode district police detained five persons from Salem for questioning on Thursday (March 20, 2025), in connection with the murder of a history-sheeter in broad daylight near Nasiyanur on the Salem-Coimbatore National Highway in Erode district on Wednesday (March 19, 2025). Additionally, two suspects surrendered before the court.

John alias Chanakya, 35, of Kitchipalayam in Salem city, was hacked to death by a four-member gang on the highway in front of his wife Saranya while they were travelling by car from Salem to Tiruppur. The body was sent to the Government Erode Medical College and Hospital (GEMCH) in Perundurai for a post-mortem examination. A video recorded by a woman in another car showing the brutal attack went viral on social media.

The four-member gang fled the scene but was intercepted by a police team near Bhavani. When the gang attacked the police team, the officers, acting in self-defence, opened fire, injuring three suspects — Satheesh, Saravanan, and Boopalan — in their legs. The fourth accused, Karthikeyan, was also apprehended with injuries. All four were admitted to GEMCH and later transferred to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital. R. Ravi, Inspector of Police, and Loganathan, Head Constable, sustained injuries during the attack and were admitted to the hospital. The Chithode police registered a case regarding the incident.

On Thursday, a special team detained five individuals from Salem city, and an inquiry is under way at the Chithode police station. Sources indicated that these individuals were in another car following the history-sheeter from Salem and fled the scene after the attack. Additionally, two suspects, Saleem and Jeevan, surrendered before Judicial Magistrate No. III in the morning.

Police sources said that Jeevan, believed to be the prime accused, is the brother of history-sheeter Chelladurai of Kitchipalayam, who was murdered in Salem on December 22, 2020. John was reportedly involved in that murder. Chelladurai and John, who were previously accomplices, later separated, and a rivalry developed between them.

Meanwhile, after the post-mortem, John’s body was handed over to his relatives. Tight police protection was provided on the hospital premises to prevent any untoward incident.