VAO murder: One more arrested in Nellai

MADURAI: A special team of police arrested Marimuthu (31) of Kaliyavoor, Thoothukudi district, another accused in the brutal murder of Kovilpathu VAO Lourde Francis (53) while at work in the office on Tuesday.

Francis, who acted against illegal river sand mining, was allegedly murdered by the sand miners. While Ramasubbu (41) from Kaliyavoor, the key accused, was arrested a few hours after the incident inside the VAO’s office in Srivaikuntam taluk, his accomplice Marimuthu, who went into hiding to evade police, was nabbed at Thalaiyuthu in Tirunelveli on Wednesday.

Based on a complaint by L Marshal Yesuvadiyan (23), son of the slain VAO, Murappanadu police have filed a case against the accused under Sections 449, 332, 302, and 506 (2) of IPC.

Meanwhile, an audio clip, which went viral on social media, of a woman VAO, stated that the murdered VAO earlier during his tenure at Adichanallur, where he came under machete attack by the sand mafia, represented his demand to the District Collector for his job transfer to Thoothukudi taluk, fearing further attack.

But since there was no, the Thoothukudi Collector asked the VAO Francis whether he could work in Ottapidaram taluk, but he preferred to remain in Srivaikuntam taluk.

But much to Francis’s agony, the VAO association in the district accorded priority to two women VAOs, who sought transfer, and acted in their favour for those job positions among three vacancies in Thoothukudi taluk. Citing these, the woman VAO claimed that it was deliberate negligence by the association that resulted in the VAO’s murder.

Thoothukudi Collector K Senthil Raj mourned his death and consoled the bereaved family after placing a wreath at the funeral. Angered by the VAO’s murder, scores of members from the association protested at Thoothukudi Collectorate seeking harsher punishments for the accused. One of the agitating members said the ill-fated VAO lodged a complaint with the police against the key accused Ramasubbu on April 13, but the police did not take action to arrest him.

They also demanded action against the police who failed to act despite receiving credible allegations against the key accused Ramasubbu.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tirunelveli Range Pravesh Kumar while talking to reporters at Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari district said since the accused knew that the Murappanadu police-initiated action based on the VAO’s complaint, they absconded and went into hiding in Kerala.

“After learning that they would be arrested, both the accused hacked the VAO in a drunken rage,” the DIG said.