The murder investigation of Tamil Nadu’s Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) Shanmugavel, takes a unexpected turn as one of the key accused, Manikandan, was shot dead in an encounter by the Tamil Nadu Police on Thursday.
According to police sources, Manikandan was killed during a site visit to the scene of Shanmugavel's murder near the Upparu stream in Chikkanoor. Police claim that Manikandan suddenly attacked the team, injuring Sub Inspector Saravanakumar in the right hand. In response, officers opened fire, killing Manikandan on the spot.
“Manikandan attacked us, so we had to shoot him in self-defence,” SI Saravanakumar told the media. Manikandan’s body has been sent to Udumalai Government Hospital for post-mortem. The encounter comes just two days after the brutal killing of SSI Shanmugavel, who was allegedly murdered by Manikandan, his brother Thangapandian and their father Murthy at an estate in Kudimangalam. The property is owned by AIADMK MLA Mahendran.
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The fatal sequence of events reportedly began with a drunken dispute on August 5 between Murthy and his sons. On hearing the dispute, police arrived and Shanmugavel intervened to bring the situation under control. However, Manikandan, who was hiding nearby, allegedly attacked the officer. The trio—Murthy, Thangapandian and Manikandan—then fatally assaulted Shanmugavel before fleeing the scene.
Police swiftly arrested Murthy and Manikandan, while a manhunt is underway for the third accused, Thangapandian, with five special teams deployed.
The encounter killing has stirred strong reactions across political circles. Former IAS officer and Tamil Nadu MP Sasikanth Senthil criticised the police action in a post on X, calling it a “cold-blooded murder by the State.”
“What happened in Tiruppur is not just tragic—it is outrageous. The murder of an SSI in the line of duty is deeply saddening, and no words can truly console the family. But does that justify another cold-blooded murder by the State, without even ascertaining what really happened?” Senthil asked.
Calling Manikandan “a poor labourer” rather than a habitual offender, Senthil questioned the legitimacy of the encounter and accused the police of blurring the lines between justice and vengeance.
“This is not law and order, it’s lawlessness in uniform. Tamil Nadu Police, you have blood on your hands. And to whoever gave this order—justice will find you,” he wrote. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government had earlier announced a Rs 1 crore compensation for Shanmugavel’s family. The officer’s funeral was held with full state honours.
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