TIRUCHY: A youth was brutally murdered by chopping off his hands in Pudukkottai on Monday. He was attacked by a gang over a prolonged rivalry, especially envious of his success in taming jallikattu bulls.

It is said that J Inbarasan (23), a bull tamer from Veppankudi in Pudukkottai, had an enmity with Vignesh (25) of the same area over bull taming and the purchase of jallikattu bulls.

On Sunday, Inbarasan went to buy a jallikattu bull in a neighbouring district and returned late at night.

On Monday morning, he went to work. While he was proceeding near Azhagammalpuram, he was intercepted by a gang that started assaulting him with lethal weapons.

On sensing danger, Inbarasan attempted to run, but the gang surrounded him and chopped both his hands initially and started assaulting him with sharp weapons all over his body before escaping.

On seeing Inbarasan struggling for life, the passersby rushed him to the Pudukkottai MCH.

However, he died on the way to the hospital. On information, Vallathirakottai police rushed to the hospital and retrieved the body and sent it for post-mortem.

Police identified the seven-member gang led by Vignesh and are in hunt for the absconders.