In a shocking development, an ADMK functionary in Chennai was killed by a gang of men in the outskirts of Chennai on Saturday. The dreadful incident had drawn immediate attention and warranted the probe into the matter. The manhunt to detain the assailants has been launched and the police have been securing the evidence in the vicinities of the crime scene. 

According to reports, Thirumaran was an ADMK leader native of Kaviarasu Kannadasan Nagar in Maraimalai Nagar in the outskirts of Chennai. He was also a realtor and he was murdered inside a temple on Saturday at around 6.30 pm. 

Thirumaran visited the Arulmigu Selva Muthukumara Swamy temple along with his wife on Saturday as it was their wedding anniversary. The couple was escorted by a personal security officer and gunned policeman Ezhilarasan. 

The reports say that moments after they entered the temple, Thirumaran had received a phone call post which he came to the entrance of the temple leaving his wife inside the premises. While he was at the call, a gang of men had hurled a bomb at Thirumaran and while he managed to escape, the gang had thrown another bomb on him immediately due to which he suffered grave injuries and the gang had then hacked him to death.

The incident had happened at around 6.30 pm and after knowing the incident, policeman Ezhilarasan came to the entrance and opened fire at the gang and the firing had killed one of the assailants while others had fled the spot. The dead assailant was identified as 19-year-old Suresh who was a native of Athur, Tiruvallur district. The deceased ADMK leader's body was then sent to the Government Hospital in Chengalpet for an autopsy. 

Chegalpet Superintendent of Police Sundaravadhanam, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Samoondeshwari, and higher police officials had visited the crime scene and conducted an inquiry. Sundaravadhanam said that the policeman had opened six rounds of fire and Suresh might be a hired killer. According to reports, the preliminary inquires revealed that at least eight men were involved in the murder. 

The police had collected CCTV footage from the residences near the temple and the Maraimalai Nagar police department had filed a murder case and installed a special team to nab the assailants who are at large. The magistrate would probe the matter of police firing. The murder that happened inside the temple had utterly shocked the residents and the ADMK leaders. 

Though the police are yet to ascertain the clear motive behind the murder, the reports close to the development say that it could have been triggered by enmity and rivalry in business. Thirumaran was targeted twice earlier. In 2016, he was attacked near Singamperumal Kovil and he managed to escape and in 2017, he was attacked again. Following the threats and attacks, he had got an armed security officer through the court order for his personal safety. However, amid personal safety, he was killed by a gang of men at a temple on his wedding anniversary.