20 history-sheeters with weapons arrested in a special operation: Police Commissioner
An initial probe revealed that they were plotting to kill a rival. Investigation is on to trace the source that supplied countrymade guns to them and a special team left for Bihar for this purpose. Three of the arrested persons were involved in the murde
Stating that a gang of 20 historysheeters with arms and ammunitions were arrested en masse in the city, Greater Chennai Police (GCP) Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore on Friday said an investigation was on to find out who supplied the countrymade guns to the gang.
Briefing mediapersons about the special operation here, he said: “We have information that they got the weapons from Bihar. A special team has gone to the State to trace the source.”
On Wednesday night, the police received a tipoff that some persons at a restaurant in Thirumangalam were in possession of dangerous weapons such as guns and knives. After verifying the information, the personnel from the serious crime squad quickly reached the spot and surrounded them.
The police arrested 17 persons, including R. Jayabal, 63, of Arakkonam, and T. Chockalingam alias Suresh, 24, and A. Muthukumar Madan, 30, of Tirunelveli district, who were involved in the murder of ‘Arcot’ Suresh, a criminal, in the city in August 2023. Police also arrested their accomplice, M. Prasanna, 31, of Velachery.
Mr. Rathore said Jayabal, Chockalingam, and
Chennai Police Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore and other officials at the press meet on Friday.
Muthukumar had been detained under the Goondas Act but were released on bail recently.
Interrogation revealed that three more suspects were involved with the gang. On Thursday, the police arrested the other three — T. Vasanth David, 29, of Kanathur, T. Selva
Bharathy, 26, of Anna Nagar West, and Raj Prakash Godwin alias Thambirajan, 57, of Ashok Nagar.
Thambirajan had supplied the countrymade guns to the gang and had stayed in Bihar for sometime. Mr. Rathore said the probe revealed that the gang was plotting to kill a rival. The police seized four countrymade guns, 84 cartridges, 11 knives, and five cars from them.
Asked about police action against historysheeters ahead of the Lok Sabha poll, the Police Commissioner said action was being taken following certain guidelines from the Election Commission of India (ECI). “We have a list of historysheeters. Our personnel are conducting inquiries on those on the list. In addition, we have an app to monitor the movement of historysheeters and other antisocial elements. Popup notifications are received whenever one of them comes out on bail.” The list was also circulated among officers.
The serious crime squad in the north and south and the gangsters wing have been tasked with monitoring the historysheeters, Mr. Rathore said. He added that 3,500 nonbailable warrants (NBWs) were pending a month ago. “We have conducted a special operation to execute NBWs. Now, we have over 580 pending,” he added.
Asked about the status of investigation into bomb threats to popular schools, he said the cyber crime police had collected certain clues from the Central agencies and a service provider. Teams were sent to different cities to analyse similar emails and trace the miscreants who sent them to the schools.