Daijiworld Media Network - Madurai

Madurai, May 25: A 17-year-old boy was brutally murdered by a five-member gang near the vehicle parking area close to the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai in the early hours of Monday, triggering shock and concern over rising youth-related violent crime in the city.

Police said all five accused, including a youth identified as Muthumani, have been arrested in connection with the killing.
Preliminary investigations suggest the murder may have been the result of an old rivalry linked to a clash during the recent Chithirai festival celebrations, one of Madurai’s major annual religious events.

According to officials, the victim was sleeping inside a vehicle parking facility owned by the Madurai Corporation near the temple premises when the attackers allegedly entered the area armed with sickles and other sharp weapons.

The assault reportedly took place around dawn when the victim was alone. Police said the gang surrounded him and launched a sudden and repeated attack, inflicting fatal injuries before anyone nearby could intervene.

Locals who discovered the incident alerted police, following which personnel rushed to the spot, secured the area, and recovered the body for post-mortem examination at a government hospital.

A special police team was formed immediately, and based on early leads and local inputs, all five suspects were identified and arrested within a short time.

During interrogation, investigators found that the victim and the accused had previously clashed during the Chithirai festival, raising suspicions that the killing was carried out as an act of revenge. Officials are also probing whether additional disputes or gang-related issues may have contributed to the attack.

Police further said the deceased had multiple criminal cases registered against him, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full sequence of events and possible involvement of others.