A 42-year old local CPI(M) functionary was hacked to death by an eight-member gang right near a police station in full public view as he emerged from there after lodging a complaint against usury disregarding threat to his life in neighbouring Namakkal District.
Velusamy, Pallipalayam CPI(M) town secretary, had barely walked about 100 feet after coming out of the police station in Pallipalayam, when the gang armed with sharp-edge weapons attacked him, police said. He died on the spot.
The victim, also an activist of CITU, had sought police action against those involved in usury, saying the high interest rate was playing havoc with the lives of several poor people in the town, known for its handloom weaving units.
On a complaint from the brother of Velusamy, police registered a murder case against eight persons and a search was on to nab them. Velusamy had received phone calls last night threatening to kill him if lodged complaint against usury, his brother said. Namakkal superitendent of police A Babu visited the spot.
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