Tamil Nadu Police have on Wednesday - March 16 encountered and killed Neeravi Murugan, one of the most notorious criminals in the state. The police had killed him near Nanguneri in the Tirunelveli district where he was hiding to evade an apprehension in the robbery case. 

According to reports, a special police team from Dindigul was searching Murugan in connection to a robbery that took place in Palani. The officials had got inputs that the accused was hiding in Tirunelveli. They had rushed and busted his hideout near a petrol station on Kalakad road. After seeing the officials, Murugan had started attacking the police team and attempted to flee the spot. 

The police had then acted in self-defence and opened fire. The officials had gunned down Murugan on the spot and a few police officers had sustained injuries during the operation. Murugan was a native of Puthiamputhur, Thoothukudi and the police have said that he was a leader of the Kopparai gang. He had his associates functioning in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi. 

Murugan was on the wanted list as he had several cases against him. He has a history of cases such as murder, attempt to murder, dacoity, and robbery. As a history-sheeter, Murugan was habitual of committing crimes despite multiple incarcerations. In 2019, he was arrested by the police at gunpoint in Valliyoor of the Tirunelveli district and he had later walked out of the prison.

Besides having several cases in his native and Tirunelveli, Murugan had cases against him Chennai. Moreover, Murugan was the prime accused in the case of murdering former DMK Minister Aladi Aruna. Recently, the police had discovered Murugan's involvement in a murder in Ottanchatram and also in the case of heisting 40 sovereigns of gold in Palani. In both cases, the special team of Dindigul police was searching for him. 

A team headed by Isakidurai had come to Tirunelveli after receiving the inputs of Murugan's safe haven. After the police surrounded him, Murugan had begun attacking the officials with a sickle following use the police shot him in self-defence. Three police officers were injured and Murugan's body was taken to the government hospital in Tirunelveli.