Gangster Sridhar’s nephew killed in fight over succession

The victim, Karunakaran, nephew of deceased gangster Sridhar Dhanapal, was allegedly killed in revenge for the murder that was reported in Cheyyar a week ago.

Karunakaran’s friend Vignesh, who was present at the spot, also suffered grievous injuries and was admitted to the Kancheepuram Government Hospital in a critical condition.

The incident happened around 6.30 pm when Karunakaran and Vignesh were chatting in their office.

The men, who reached the spot on bikes wearing helmets, entered the office with tiffin boxes. When Karunakaran stood up to receive the prasadam, they took out machetes from their back, hacked both of them and fled the spot.

On information, the Siva Kanchi police went to the spot, recovered Karunakaran’s body and send it for autopsy. Vignesh was also rushed tothe hospital.

Police sources said that Karunakaran belongs to the gang of Thanika alias Thanikachalam, brother-in-law of Sridhar Dhanapal. After Sridhar’s suicide in Cambodia in 2017, Thanikachalam and Sridhar’s driver Dinesh were fighting for the gangster’s position. Their men often clashed and hurled country bombs against each other in the last two years.

“Dinesh’s gang member Sathish was hacked to death in a moving bus in Cheyyar a week ago allegedly by men of Thanikachalam. They wanted to take revenge and decided to murder Karunakaran,” added police sources.

As the Siva Kanchi police have launched a hunt for the suspects, five men surrendered in Vellore Court in connection with the murder on Wednesday and were remanded in judicialcustody for 15 days. Further investigation is on.