Chennai: Notorious gangster 'Neeravi' Murugan was shot dead by a special team of Dindigul police which was initially formed to nab the history-sheeter on Wednesday.
However, the police said, they took to encounter as a defense-mechanism after the history-sheeter attacked the police.
According to a report by IANS, Tirunelveli SP Saravanan informed that a special team of Dindigul police zeroed down on Murugan in a robbery case and started to chase him at Kalakad in Tirunelveli.
While they neared Murugan, he said, the history-sheeter started attacking the police team. Hence, a Sub-Inspector of police fired a round and the gangster died on the spot, SP said.
Four cops who were involved in the search suffered injuries to heads and faces after which sub-inspector Isakki Raja fired in self-defense, he added.
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Tirunelveli SP Saravanan informed that Murugan was a notorious criminal with various charges including robbery and encroachment of properties. He had attacked the police earlier as well.
Murugan's body has been sent to autopsy at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital. The Kalakkad police have also registered a case and further probe is on.
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Murugan has been reportedly involved in over 60 criminal cases across Tamil Nadu. Previously, a video by a passerby of ‘Neeravi’ Murugan forcing a teacher to give away her ornaments went viral on social media.
In January this year, two history-sheeters, who were accused in a double murder case, were also shot dead during a police encounter in a forest area of Chengalpattu.