Tiruppur Special Sub-Inspector on duty hacked to death while intervening in father-sons dispute

A Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) of Police on duty, Shanmugavel (57), was hacked to death on Tuesday (August 5, 2025) night at Gudimangalam village in Tiruppur district while intervening in a dispute between a father and his two sons.

According to police, Murthy and his two sons including Thangapandian, who were working and residing at a farm, were involved in an altercation under the influence of alcohol. During the dispute, Thangapandian allegedly assaulted his father.

Neighbours alerted the police through the emergency helpline 100. Special Sub-Inspector Shanmugavel and constable Azhagu Raja (35), attached to the Gudimangalam police station and on patrol duty nearby, responded to the call and reached the scene around 11 p.m. Shanmugavel reportedly separated the two men and arranged for Murthy to be sent to hospital in an ambulance.

Thangapandian, allegedly angered by the intervention, attacked Shanmugavel with a sharp weapon, killing him on the spot. He then attempted to assault Azhagu Raja, who managed to escape and alert the police station. Thangapandian fled the spot and a hunt is on to trace him.

Stalin expresses shock

Expressing deep shock and sorrow over the incident, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced a compensation of ₹1 crore to the family of the deceased police officer. In a statement on Wednesday, he described the killing as an irreparable loss to the Tamil Nadu police and to the officer’s family.

“I was deeply shocked to hear of this tragic incident. The death of Shanmugavel is an irreparable loss to both the Tamil Nadu Police Department and to his family. I have directed the police to swiftly apprehend the culprits involved in this act,” he added.