5 held for auto drivers murder

TIRUCHY: Five persons, including a Plus One student, were arrested here on Monday in connection with the murder of an auto driver. Hunt is on for two others, including a college student who is the key accused in the case. Auto driver and VCK functionary Mariappan (32) of Indira Nagar in E Pudhur went missing on October 29. Two days later, his body was found in a puddle near Panchapur. Based on a tip-off, the police arrested Crawford residents S Maharajan (20) and N Balaji (18) and V Baskar, R Manikantan (22) of Ponmalaipatti and K Jagadeesan (21) of Gandhi Nagar in Perambalur on Monday. During interrogation, the accused said there was a dispute between Mariappan and M Manikandan, their friend residing at Crawford and a college student, over a love affair. Manikandan had an affair with a girl who is known to Mariappan. Mariappan had been warning Manikandan to stop seeing the girl and this led to an altercation. Mariappan allegedly beat up Manikandan, tied his hands together and started assaulting him. An infuriated Manikandan later hatched a plan to finish off Mariappan and sought the help of his friends. On October 29, some of his friends hired Mariappan’s auto and took him to Panchapur where the others, including Manikandan, were waiting. On seeing the gang, Mariappan tried to flee but was stabbed to death. Later, they discarded the body in a puddle and escaped. A special team of police is now searching for Manikandan and V Kumar, one of his friends.