Relatives of the double murder victims stage protest in Kalaiyarkovil in Sivaganga district on Friday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Sivaganga Police conducted a lathi-charge against protesters who staged a road blockade in Kalaiyarkovil condemning a double murder and forcefully arrested 72 people.
Dhevendiran, 25, who belonged to Kayavodai Pudukudiyiruppu near Kalaiyarkovil in Sivaganga district ran a bar in Pollachi, Coimbatore district.
He, along with Poo Pandi, 25, from Siruvelangudi who worked in a private financial institution, were consuming alcohol on September 16 near the Kodikadu tank bund close to Sivaganga.
At that time, a gang hacked them to death. Regarding this, Sivaganga Town police registered a case and arrested five people. Police said, their initial investigations revealed that the gang had committed the murder due to mistaken identity.
The bodies have been kept at the Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, refusing to accept the reason that it was a case of mistaken identity and demanding the arrest of the real culprits, the relatives of the deceased staged a road blockade in Sivaganga on Thursdaya.
On Friday, they again staged a blockade near the police station in Kalaiyarkovil.
District Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta, Revenue Divisional Officer Jabi Gracia, and others held talks with them.
At that time, they insisted that a compensation of ₹50 lakh each should be provided to the families of the deceased, and government jobs should be given to their family members.
Refusing the police’s compromise, they engaged in an argument. This led to a scuffle between the police and the protesters.
As a result, authorities pushed the protesters on to a bus by force. In response, other demonstrators surrounded and blocked the vehicle.
Amidst the chaos, some individuals knocked over goods displayed outside nearby stores while urging shop owners to shut down.
In reaction to the escalation of unrest, police deployed a lathi-charge to break up the crowd. While several protesters managed to scatter and escape, a total of 72 individuals were detained.
Published – September 18, 2026 08:32 pm IST
