Chennai police open fire at history-sheeter, arrest him

A history-sheeter who attempted to evade arrest was nabbed after a special police team shot at him at Ayanavaram in Chennai early Monday (December 9, 2024). 

A history-sheeter who attempted to evade arrest was nabbed after a special police team shot at him at Ayanavaram in Chennai early Monday (December 9, 2024). 

A senior police officer said the accused, Arivazhagan, 24, of Thirumullaivoyal, an ‘A’ category history-sheeter, was in hiding, and that the special team traced him to a housing quarters at Pananthope Railway Colony, Ayanavaram. He was surrounded by the team at around 6 a.m. on Monday.

“On being surrounded by the police, he whipped out a country-made gun and brandished it at them. Sub-Inspector Prem Kumar shot him on his right leg, below the knee, in order to immobilise him. He dropped his weapon, fell, and the police caught him. He was rushed to Government Stanley Hospital, where he has been undergoing treatment. Further investigation is on,” the official said. 

The police said Arivazhagan, alias Hari, was allegedly involved in half a dozen criminal offences, including murder and attempt to murder cases, in Chennai and Tiruvallur districts. He has murder cases pending against him in Sembium and Pulianthope stations in the Greater Chennai City Police limits and another murder case and an attempt to murder case in Sholavaram police station, besides a ganja-peddling case in Minjur and an attempt to murder case in Thiruthani.   

A non-bailable warrant had been issued against him by a trial court after he failed to appear before it in connection with a criminal case registered by the Chennai City police. Thereafter, a special team was formed to arrest him. The team, headed by Otteri Sub-Inspectors Prem Kumar and Venkateshwaran, launched the hunt to trace him as he had been evading the police for the past couple of years.

The team had been to Bihar in search of him and then to Andhra Pradesh, where he was in hiding for a long time, apprehensive that he was in danger of being attacked by the associates of a history-sheeter whose murder he was allegedly involved in, said police sources.

When the special team went to Andhra Pradesh on Sunday (December 8, 2024), it was learnt he had escaped to Chennai. They then traced him to his hideout in the city before shooting at him and arresting him.