Builder shot at, hacked by two gangs near Saidapet site

Police said Jaganathan (51), a DMK functionary, involved in real estate and construction trade, was residing with his wife Manonmani (42) and two daughters in a house near Aranganathan Subway in West Saidapet. 

On Monday morning, after his usual morning walk, Jaganathan was going on his two-wheeler with another builder, Venkatesan, to a site in Saidapet, where he had taken up a construction project. At this point of time, a gang of four came on motor bikes and opened fire at them before fleeing the spot. Jaganathan, who sustained two bullet injuries on his left shoulder and hand, fell down bleeding. 

Minutes after the attempt by the four-member motor bike-borne group on his life, another five-member gang came to the spot and started hacking Jaganathan, even as he was lying in a pool of flood, inflicting serious cuts on his body. Following this, panic gripped the whole area and shops in the locality downed shutters. An uneasy calm prevailed in the area and residents did not step out of their houses for some time. Jaganathan was rushed to Royapettah Government Hospital and later admitted at a private hospital in Thousand Lights. 

Though the bullets have been removed from his body, the DMK functionary continues to be in a critical condition, sources said. On receiving information, Joint Commissioner Arun, Deputy Commissioners Kannan, Saravanan, Assistant Commissioner Thangaraj along with a team rushed to the spot and held inquiries.

Cops suspect “CD” Mani, a history-sheeter of South Chennai, behind the attack. Both Mani and Jaganathan are into construction activity and had rivalry due to business deals. Police are checking the footages recorded in the CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity of the crime scene.

Last year in May also, Jaganathan survived a bomb attack in the same area and a history-sheeter of South Chennai identified as “CD” Mani and his gang were suspected in the attempt at that time. But, CD Mani later managed to get anticipatory bail. Subsequently, Mani went underground along with his men although five of his gang were arrested. The case is still pending in Kumaran Nagar police station. After the Monday’s attack on Jaganathan, the suspicion has fell on Mani and cops are now tracing his whereabouts.