16-yr-old among five held for conspiring to kill bar owner

One of the five persons arrested on Wednesday night was a 16-year-old boy. Police said Danabalan (39), also a native of Sivaganga and settled down in Mummurthy Nagar in Tirupur over the last five years, had lodged a complaint with Anupperpalayam police that two unidentified men were following him.

A police team secured the two persons, including the 16-year-old boy. Inquiries with them revealed that they were part of a bigger gang trailing him tocommit murder. The police said a few months ago, the Sivagangai police had arrested a group of men for kidnapping Danabalan, demanding a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. “Also Danabalan had enmity with few persons over taking a Tasmac shop bar on tender in his native village. They all were waiting to revenge him,” the police said. As part of their plan, one Alagupandi and the 16-year-old boy were assigned by the gang members to monitor Danabalan in Tirupur. Following their arrest, the other members of the gang, who were hiding here looking for the right time to execute their plan, had fled to Sivagangai.

Based on their confession, a special team of police rushed to Sivagangai and nabbed Eswaran (32), Theerthakumar (28) and Alagupandi (23) on Wednesday night. The police also seized knives and sickles from their possession. The police said that the gang members were already facing murder charges. A search is on to nab few others, who were on the run. Further investigations are on.