Personnel who foiled bomb attack on prisoner among nine honoured by Chennai Police Commissioner

Chennai Police Commissioner honors nine individuals for their bravery in thwarting a bomb attack and other criminal incidents.

Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Arun on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) honoured eight police personnel who performed their duties exceptionally well, along with a member of the public who assisted in apprehending accused persons in a crime.

One of the incidents involved the safe escort of a prison inmate from Madurai, Kalimuthu, alias Vellaikaali. He was lodged in Central Prison, Puzhal, Chennai, and was escorted to courts in Pudukkottai, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli in January this year. Led by Armed Reserve Special Sub-Inspector R. Ramachandran of the Greater Chennai Police, an escort team comprising constables Guna, Maruthupandi, Ajithkumar, and police vehicle driver/head constable Vineshkumar, transported the prisoner under armed security.

After producing the prisoner before the courts for hearings on January 21, 22, and 23, the team returned to Central Prison, Puzhal, on the morning of January 24. Around noon, while travelling on the national highway within the Mangalamedu police limits in Perambalur district, they stopped at a restaurant for lunch, along with the prisoner.

Soon, about 10 persons arrived in two cars and attempted to murder the prisoner by hurling country-made bombs, throwing chilli powder solution at the police personnel, and attacking them with sickles. Two personnel were injured by the explosives. Special Sub-Inspector Ramachandran asked the attackers to disperse, but when they ignored the warning and advanced again, he fired warning shots towards the hotel roof and then at the attackers, causing them to panic and flee in their cars.

The injured police driver Vineshkumar and constable Maruthupandi were sent to hospital by a toll-plaza ambulance. The prisoner was safely taken to the Perambalur Armed Reserve, and a complaint was lodged at the Mangalamedu police station. The city police said with their timely action, Mr. Ramachandran and the escort team successfully safeguarded the prisoner.

In another incident, in the early morning of February 8, Nagaraj, 37, an auto driver from Tondiarpet, was waiting for passengers after refuelling at a petrol bunk on Poonamallee High Road in Egmore. Two men approached him pretending to hire a ride, snatched his mobile phone, and ran away.