Tamil Nadu Officer Hacked To Death Over Case Against Sand Mining

Lourde, the victim, was a strict officer and never received any bribe.

A 55-year-old Village Administrative Officer (VAO) was hacked to death at his office for allegedly working against sand mafia racket at Maruppadnadu in Thoothukudi district on Tuesday. Two unidentified men who barged into the office hacked him to death with machetes. 

According to IANS, Lourde, the victim, was a strict officer and never received any bribe. He did not budge to the pressure of bribe culture by mining groups. 

Several local miners were against him and the possibility of some of these groups killing the VAO could not be ruled out, said sources, as per IANS.

On Tuesday, Lourde was working in his office when two men barged into the office and hacked him with sickles. Lourde sustained grievous injuries and was rushed to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. However, he died due to the injuries.

As a result, the police registered a case and nabbed one of the accused Rama Subbu. The accused was previously booked by Lourde for sand smuggling. So he plotted against the VAO, said a release.

The police have formed special teams to nab the other accused who is currently absconding.

Meanwhile, Thoothukudi Collector Dr K Senthilraj and SP Balaji Saravanan met the family members of the deceased in Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital. The Collector assured that serious action would be taken against the accused. The SP also visited the crime spot. 

Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin condoled the death of VAO and announced Rs 1 crore ex-gratia to the family members.

He also assured a government job to a kin of the deceased person.