A 20-year-old history-sheeter was hacked to death by a six-member gang near Washermenpet in Chennai late on Sunday. The police have detained four persons and suspect previous enmity as the motive behind the murder.
The deceased was identified as N. Ajay, alias ‘Bali Aadu’ Ajay, of SVM Nagar in Otteri. A part-time delivery agent, Ajay had more than five criminal cases pending against him, according to the Washermenpet police. The police said the gang waylaid Ajay when he was returning home after dropping off a friend in Old Washermenpet on Sunday night. The assailants allegedly attacked him with knives. Although he attempted to flee, the gang gave chase and assaulted him before fleeing the spot.
Passers-by alerted the police, who rushed Ajay to a government hospital, where the doctors declared him dead. His body was sent for a post-mortem examination. Preliminary investigations revealed that Ajay was previously associated with the accused but had later parted ways. The police suspect that a recent dispute, reportedly triggered after Ajay interacted with a woman related to one of the accused on social media, triggered the fatal attack. Further investigation is under way.
Published – July 20, 2026 08:56 pm IST
