Periamet machete attack: Attempt to murder case turns into murder after victim dies; five arrested in connection with fatal assault over liquor dispute

CHENNAI: The Vepery Police altered an attempt to murder case to murder after a 26-year-old man succumbed to injuries sustained during a machete attack in Periamet. The victim, Premkumar, a resident of Stingers Street in the Periamet slum, died on 7 June while undergoing treatment at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.The incident occurred in the early hours of 5 June, when Premkumar and his friend Kapil visited the residence of a woman named Sumathi in the same locality, allegedly seeking liquor. When Sumathi refused, Premkumar reportedly verbally abused her. In response, Sumathi contacted her son Dheena and son-in-law Vijayanarayanan. The two men, accompanied by others, returned in an auto-rickshaw and attacked Premkumar with machetes before fleeing.Premkumar was admitted to the government hospital with severe injuries. Despite medical intervention, he died two days later. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim's mother, Amulu (50), the police initially registered a case of attempt to murder.A special team led by the inspector of Vepery Police Station arrested five persons identified as Vijayanarayanan (35), Jeeva (33), Dheena (24), Kannadasan (22), and Sumathi (44), all residents of Periamet.

During the arrests, police recovered two machetes, a car, and an auto believed to have been used in the assault. The accused were produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.Preliminary investigations revealed that the assault was rooted in ongoing personal disputes. Police sources said Premkumar had previously attacked Vijayanarayanan with a knife, contributing to the hostility. “There were longstanding tensions between the parties involved,” an investigating officer confirmed.Following Premkumar’s death, the charges were modified to murder under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. Further investigation is underway.

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