CHENNAI: A 27-year-old auto driver was hacked to death allegedly by four men near Abiramapuram on Tuesday evening over a previous enmity.

The deceased has been identified as A Sivakumar, a resident of KVB Garden in Raja Annamalaipuram.

According to police, Sivakumar was sitting in his auto near the ‘U’ turn on Ramakrishna Mutt Road, when four men who arrived on two-wheelers confronted him. The gang allegedly attacked him with a knife and fled from the spot.

Passerby rescued the grievously injured man and admitted him to the Government Royapettah Hospital (GRH). Based on a complaint from his mother, Abiramapuram police registered a case under sections including attempt to murder and traced the accused, Loganathan, Veera, Ajith and Ramu, within a few hours of the incident.

Sivakumar was later shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital for further treatment, where he died without responding to treatment late Tuesday night. Following his death, the case has been altered to murder and further investigation is underway, police said.

During inquiry, police found that Sivakumar and Loganathan had a fall out about three years ago. Loganathan allegedly joined hands with his friends and attacked Sivakumar, leading to his death.