Chamarajanagar, May 13 (DHNS): Five people were hacked to death by a group of labourers at Harale village in Kollegal taluk of the district on Monday night.

The deceased are Rajendran, 35, of Palakotai village of Bhavani taluk in Erode district; Rajamma, 32, of Handiyur village; her daughter Roja, nine; Shivamma, 32; and her husband Kashi, 40.

They were among 20 workers camping here for harvest work in the sugarcane fields belonging to Mahadevamma. Rajendran was the contractor who had brought the labourers from the neighbouring state to work .

On Monday night, a fight ensued between Rajendran and the other workers. In the heat of the moment, the suspects are said to have hacked Rajendran and the four others to death using the machetes employed for the harvest work.

The incident came to light when Siddaraju, the owner of the farm, came to the farmhouse where the victims were sleeping and opened the door. He found the victims lying dead. The police were informed and they arrived at the spot. The police have taken Gaddamma, Jadeya and Shivu of Handiyuru into custody. It is said Rajendran and Rajamma were having an affair and this may be the reason behind the murder. S Rangaswamy Nayaka, the district SP, said that a special team had been formed to nab the suspects.