Chennai, May 27 (BPNS)

Three persons were arrested by the Madurai district police over the murder of a temple priest, Lakshmanan (55) on Thursday morning. The hacking of a temple priest on the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was reaching Tamil Nadu has given a major shocker to the state police and the DGP had directed the district superintendent of police, Madurai to immediately take necessary action and bring the culprits to book.

The arrested are close relatives of Lakshmanan who were angered over him getting the parivattam (first respect) during the festivals of the two temples where he was a priest, Karuppukal Kaaliamman Temple, and Karuppasamy Kovil.

Police said that Lakshmanan’s father had two wives and his half-brother Gopal’s sons, G. Saravanan (25) and G. Singam (23) did not like Lakshmanan getting the parivattam (first respect) and they believed that it was rightfully of their father, Gopal.  The duo along with their friend Manikandan was consuming liquor on Wednesday night and decided to eliminate Lakshmanan.

The three, according to the Police waited for Lakshmanan who had a routine of going to the Karuppukal Kaaliamman  Temple early in the morning. On finding him riding a two-wheeler to the temple, the three pounced on him and hacked him to death.

Madurai Police told BPNS that all three are under custody and they are probing the role of Gopal, Lakshmanan’s half-brother and the father of Saravanan and Singam. Police said that if they find Gopal part of the conspiracy, he would be arraigned and taken into custody. The interrogation of Saravanan, Singam, and Manikandan is taking place to ascertain whether any others are involved in the plan and execution of the murder to eliminate Lakshmanan.

The deceased Lakshmanan is also working as a Government employee and is a Panchayat Clerk.