Unsolved murders gives locals jitters

The first murder occurred nearly 10 days ago, when a head wrapped in a plastic bag was found floating in the irrigation tank at Madapalli in Tirupattur police sub division. A leg, a hand and a few body parts were found scattered some three kilometres away. The other leg is yet to be traced. The head has not been identified till date, although police scanned the missing person list of the district and even sent emails to nearby district police stations, seeking information. 

In a bid to crack the case, police have not only displayed posters, but have also distributed pamphlets, seeking information about the victim. There have been no leads till date, sources revealed. On Tuesday, the charred body of a 35year old man was found near the Siva temple at Mangalam village in the Yelagiri Hills. The body, except for the head, was burnt with petrol. The victim has not been identified till date. 

Similarly, an unidentified person, aged around 45, and admitted to the Tirupattur Government Hospital. Sources said that residents of Kaveripattu near Jolarpettai, had beaten him, suspecting his activities. He succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, before police could gather details of his identity. Although one person has been arrested in this connection, police are hunting for two more in connection with the death. That they were unable to identify the victim adds to the mystery of local deaths.

Although police claim that the first two deaths might be due to members of gangs falling out, they have been unable to substantiate their claims with hard evidence, thereby eroding public trust in them. Older residents recall early 1980s, when burgeoning Naxalism resulted in a number of murders, before the movement was quelled.