Hindu Munnani functionary murdered by gang at Rajapalayam bus stand

An armed gang murdered a 46-year-old man, Thanikachalam of Othakadai in Madurai, near Rajapalayam old bus stand in Virudhunagar district in the early hours of Saturday (August 29).On receiving information, Rajapalayam North Police rushed to the spot and conducted inquiries. Preliminary inquiries revealed that Thanikachalam, a two-wheeler consultant-cum-mechanic, was living in Othakadai with his family. He was associated with the Hindu Munnani.It is said that Thanikachalam had been to Tirunelveli on Friday to pay condolence to a bereaved family. While returning to Madurai by bus, he alighted at Rajapalayam old bus stand.Around 12.15 .am., some youth surrounded Thanikachalam on two-wheelers and broached a conversation with him. Later, he was seen moving away from them, apparently to reach a safer place.The gang chased and attacked him with deadly weapons, in which he fell on the ground in an unconscious state.A bus crew member alerted 108 emergency service, which rushed Thanikachalam to Rajapalayam Government Hospital, but he died on the way, the police said.Virudhunagar Superintendent of Police Gowtham Goyal inspected the scene of crime. Rajapalayam Deputy Superintendent of Police Fasina Beevi, Inspector Chandran and team conducted investigations.A police officer said Thanikachalam’s mobile phone suggested that he planned to go to Courtallam with some of his relatives and that he alighted at Rajapalayam old bus stand. While he had originally purchased a ticket to Madurai, he changed the travel plan and got down enroute.When he was waiting for his relatives to pick him up at the old bus stand, the gang murdered him and escaped under the cover of darkness. Whether there was any motive for the murder or it was a mistaken identity was being examined, the officer added.Meanwhile, shopkeepers in the vicinity appealed to the police to intensify surveillance at the bus stand as only a fortnight ago a gang had chased two teenaged boys there. Police pickets should be posted and more CCTV cameras installed as the bus stand was used by a large number of people, including women and children, they added.Road blockadeFollowing the murder, family members and relatives of Thanikachalam blocked Cotton Market Road for over 30 minutes. Traffic came to a standstill on the busy Madurai- Tenkasi stretch. Police, led by Ms. Fasina Beevi, and Tahsildar Rahul Gandhi held discussions with them following which they dispersed.The police said they had detained two suspects and investigations were on. Published - August 29, 2026 07:11 pm IST