3 functionaries killed in political rivalries in TN

Chennai, Nov 17 (UNI) Three functionaries, including one of the ruling DMK and two from the main Opposition AIADMK were killed in two separate incidents due to political rivalries in Tamil Nadu today.

Senior DMK leader and Party Tiruvarur District Secretary ''Poondi'' Kalaichelvan was killed in a bomb attack by a nine-member gang at his residence in Koradacherry village in the district.

In another incident, AIADMK Chengalpattu Town Secretary and Municipality Vice-chairman Kumar and party functionary Arumugam were hacked to death by a ten-member gang at Thimmavaram village in Kancheepuram district.

Kalaichelvan was at his residence, when the gang members, who visited him on the pretext of inviting him for a wedding, hurled two country bombs and later hacked him to death to settle political scores.

The AIADMK men Kumar and Arumugam were on their way to Kancheepuram in a car, when the gang, tailing them in a van, waylaid and attacked the duo with lethal weapons.

Both of them sustained muiltiple cut injuries all over the body and died inside the car itself.

Two other AIADMKmen--Chengalpattu Town MGR Youth wing Secretary Inbaraj and Sasikumar--sustained injuries in the attack.

In a swift action, police arrested four members of the nine- member gang that killed Kalaichelvan, while a search was on to nab the remaining members.

Political rivalry was said to be the reason behind the killings as Kalaichelvan, who was the district secretary for the last ten years, was the key accused in the murder of a local AIADMK functionary Rajendran, three years ago.

The growing animosity between the two parties over Kumar alias ''Korangu'' Kumar, who had been winning the local bodies elections consistently, resulted in the killing, with the AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa alleging DMK's role in the incident.

DMK President M Karunanidhi and AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa condoled their party leaders' death.

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UNI