CHENNAI: A fresh case of mysterious death coming close on the heels of similar deaths in the busy Vadapalani and adjoining areas in the city have sparked off fears of a psychopath on prowl in the vicinity.
   
On Monday, an unidentified man was found charred to death at the West Mambalam area, taking the death toll to four in the past few weeks.
   
While two persons were found dead with their heads smashed with a stone and another left injured, a security guard was found burnt to death at an apartment complex in Vadapalani a few days ago. But, police termed the death of the guard as an "accidental" one.
   
Though police claimed to have arrested one Ekambaram in connection with the murders, fears of a psychopath on prowl have increased after today's death, local people said.
    
Chennai Police Commissioner R Sekar termed the killings as "a challenge" to police and vowed to "put an end to such mysterious deaths."