Kin blame ‘illicit liquor trade’ as two youth murdered in Mayiladuthurai

Two men killed, one injured in Muttam village clash; three arrested; police deny illicit liquor link; political demands made.

Two men were killed and another sustained injuries in a clash at Muttam village on Friday. Three persons have been arrested in connection with the double murder.

According to the police, M. Muventhan, 24, of North Street, Muttam, under the Perambur police station limits, had a dispute with R. Dinesh, 28. On Thursday evening, an argument broke out between the two. When it turned into a fight, residents of the area intervened and stopped it.

However, around 8.30 p.m. the next day, when Dinesh was talking to his friends — K. Harish, 25, and K. Ajay, 19, from Muttam; and B. Sakthi, 20, from Srinivasapuram — three persons attacked them with knives. While Harish sustained severe injuries to his abdomen, Sakthi was stabbed in the back. Ajay suffered injuries to his hand. They were rushed to the Mayiladuthurai Government Hospital, but Harish and Sakthi succumbed to injuries on the way.

Besides Muventhan, the other accused are M. Thangathurai, 28, and R. Rajkumar, 34. Barring Dinesh, the other victims had no enmity with the accused. The Perambur police have registered a case, arrested the accused, and remanded them in judicial custody.

Meanwhile, the district police have dismissed allegations that the murders were linked to illicit liquor sale. They have clarified that the clash followed a verbal quarrel among men from the same locality. Further investigation is under way. However, the families of victims and local residents said the students were murdered for opposing illicit liquor sale in the area and refused to accept their bodies.

CPI(M) members staged a protest near the Mayiladuthurai bus stand, demanding that the Perambur police inspector be arrested and departmental action be initiated against her. Party leaders accused her of shielding illicit liquor traders.

CPI(M) district secretary P. Srinivasan told The Hindu that negligence on the part of the police emboldened bootleggers.