The Villupuram police in Tamil Nadu have apprehended nine people so far after the brutal murder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader. The incident has startled the state and sparked protests from the PMK cadres. The cadres had hurled stones at the buses and the untoward developments had warranted a heavy deployment of police across the district. 

The horrific incident happened during the late night hours of Thursday and the deceased was identified as Adityan, who was serving as the PMK's deputy secretary in Villupuram. He was found murdered with his throat slit on the roadside at Kappiyampuliyur near Vikkravandi in the Villupuram district. Police said Adityan had left his house on Thursday night and when he didn't return home, his family members lodged a complaint with the Vikravandi police. 

Based on the complaint, the police launched the search and the officials found Adityan dead on the roadside. Senior police officers including Villupuram Superintendent of Police (SP) Shreenatha visited the spot and recovered the body and sent it to the Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital. The police have formed special teams to nab the assailants. 

Villupuram Superintendent of Police (SP) N Shreenatha said nine people have been arrested and that a case has been registered under sections 302- murder, 147 - punishment for rioting, and 148- rioting of Indian Penal Code. The SP has also said that Adityan was murdered was personally motivated by his relative over an enmity in an earlier Panchayat election. 

The case was registered based on a complaint filed by deceased Adityan's wife Shanthi to the Vikravandi police. As tensions prevailed in Villupuram, a heavy police personnel led by the SP and the DSP were stationed across the district. Earlier, the police dispersed a mob that attempted to clash on the road. It has been reported that the heavy police contingent will remain in place for a few more days.