5 arrested for murder of Sri Lankan refugee

TRICHY: The city police on Saturday arrested five people in connection with the murder of a 56-year-old Sri Lankan refugee.
According to the police, the arrested accused had confessed that they killed the refugee for passing information to the police about their involvement in an ATM fraud.
R Kumaran, 25, of Karumandapam and T Ragavan, 32, of Karumandapam both Sri Lankan refugees, M Raja alias Yuvaraja, 27, of Mannarpuram, S Munna alias Ibrahim of Palakkarai and A Robin Simon, 22, of Subramaniapuram in Trichy were arrested for their involvement in the murder of Selvendran, 56, of Karumandapam, on September 1 in front of his newly-constructed house.
Police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Selvandran's wife S Premakumar. In her complaint, Premkumar alleged that two men hacked her husband to death. Selvendran was a visa agent to Sri Lanka.
A special team was formed to crack the case. The needle of suspicion pointed towards some ATM fraud accused who were also Sri Lankan refugees. Police shifted their focus on Kumaran and Ragavan, who were accused of indulging in withdrawing cash by using fake ATM cards of bank accounts of others.
Police nabbed Kumaran and his accomplice Raja alias Yuvaraja on Friday afternoon. On interrogation, Kumaran admitted that he and his gang murdered Selvendran.
Police said Selvendran was acting as an informer to the police about the activities of Kumaran and Ragavan. Moreover, Selvendran did not return the chit fund amount of Rs 7.5 lakh obtained by his sister from the duo. The duo conspired with three others and murdered Selvandran for passing information about them to the police.
Ragavan and Munnai were arrested in the evening based on the information provided by the duo. The accused were produced before the court on Saturday and were remanded in judicial custody. Robin was not produced before the court as he was arrested late in the evening.
Selvendren is survived by his wife Premakumari and three daughters -- Janaki, Krithiga and Samitha.