GG News Bureau
Chennai 27th January :A key accused linked to last week’s bomb attack on a prison convoy in Tamil Nadu’s Perambalur district was shot dead during an alleged police encounter early Tuesday, officials said. The deceased, identified as Alaguraja alias Kottu Raja (30) of Madurai, was described by police as a hardened criminal with multiple cases pending against him.
The encounter took place in a forested area near Thirumanthurai village following intelligence inputs about weapons concealed in the region. A special police team led by Mangalamedu Police Inspector Nandakumar launched an early-morning operation to recover the arms allegedly used in the January 24 attack on a prison escort vehicle.
According to police, Alaguraja and his associates attempted to flee after allegedly hurling country-made bombs at the police vehicle. Officers opened fire in self-defence, fatally injuring Alaguraja. One police officer sustained injuries during the operation and is currently undergoing treatment.
“In self-defence, officers opened fire when the suspect attacked police personnel using country bombs,” a senior police official said, adding that six other suspects were apprehended at the scene.
Those arrested were identified as Nirmal Kumar (26), Pandi Muniswaran (27), Karthik (29), Alex Pandiyan (34), Aravind (29), and Vinoth (34), hailing from various districts including Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Samayapuram, and the Nilgiris. All six are being interrogated at Mangalamedu Police Station as part of an expanded investigation into the gang’s network and operations.
The development follows a dramatic attack on January 24, when a gang allegedly attempted to murder a convict, Vellaikali, during his transfer from Dindigul to Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai. Near the Thirumanthurai toll plaza on the Trichy–Chennai National Highway, around 15 assailants in two vehicles reportedly lobbed country bombs and attacked the convoy with sharp weapons, injuring two police personnel.
Despite the assault, police successfully secured the convict and later transferred him to prison under heightened security. The attackers fled the scene after breaking through a toll gate, abandoning their vehicles, which were later seized by police.
Following the incident, Perambalur police formed five special teams and registered cases under multiple sections of law. Investigators believe the attack stemmed from a long-standing criminal rivalry and suspect that additional individuals may have helped plan the operation.
Meanwhile, the encounter killing has drawn criticism from human rights activists, who have demanded transparency and an independent inquiry. Activists urged authorities to release detailed information surrounding the operation, citing concerns over the increasing frequency of encounter-related deaths involving alleged repeat offenders.
Police said further forensic analysis and weapon recovery are ongoing.
