The Chennai police gunned down a 48-year-old history-sheeter, Shankar, when he allegedly attacked a police constable with a knife on New Avadi Road in the early hours of Friday.
Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami told journalists in Namakkal that stern legal action would be taken against those indulging in rowdyism. “Tamil Nadu leads in maintaining law and order in the country. Rowdies will be suppressed and the government will take stern legal action against persons indulging in rowdyism,” he said.
Police said Shankar, of Ayanavaram, had 51 criminal cases against him, including three for murder and four for attempt to murder, besides cases of extortion and selling ganja, police said. Police said a team led by Ayanavaram inspector Natarajan had detained Shankar in connection with cases related to murder and possession of ganja. At 6.30 a.m., he was taken to recover contraband, which was concealed in the debris dumped on a vacant plot near the Ayanavaram RTO on New Avadi Road.
According to Additional Commissioner of Police, (South) R.Dhinakaran, Shankar took a knife and attacked constable Mubarak in a bid to escape.
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Mr. Natarajan opened fire on Shankar and the bullet hit his chest and stomach.
He was taken to Government Kilpauk Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The injured constable Mubarak has been admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Mr. Dhinakaran and Joint Commissioner of police, East R.Sudhakar inspected the spot and held enquiries with police personnel.
Police said Shankar was detained under the Goondas Act on nine occasions. He was acquitted from a few cases. He was recently involved in the attack on a Congress functionary and owner of a supermarket demanding protection money (mamool) from him, police said.
Police Commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal visited Mr. Mubarak at the Government Kilpauk Hospital and enquired about his health.
Mr. Aggarwal told The Hindu Shankar was a history-sheeter and was absconding and five non-bailable warrants were issued by courts against him.
Asked about steps to control rowdyism, Mr. Aggarwal said, “We are going to deal with them legally and are executing NBWs, following up on their cases in the courts. If required, we will detain them under Goondas Act.”
As per the Code of Criminal Procedure, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to go into the circumstances which led to the killing of Shankar. Police are investigating how Shankar had obtained COVID-19 e-pass which was affixed on his car.
