Daijiworld Media Network- Chennai

Chennai, Aug 6: In a shocking incident that has rocked Tamil Nadu’s Tiruppur district, a police officer was brutally hacked to death while attempting to defuse a violent domestic quarrel late Monday night.

The victim, identified as Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) Shanmugavel, was on night patrol duty near Udumalpet when he responded to a distress call about a heated clash between a father and his two sons at a private estate in Kudimangalam — reportedly owned by a local AIADMK MLA.

According to eyewitnesses and police sources, the family members — Murthy and his sons Thangapandian and Manikandan — were allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had gotten into a scuffle. When the officer tried to pacify the situation and arrange for medical assistance for the injured father, the younger son Manikandan, who was hiding, suddenly attacked Shanmugavel with a sickle. The father and elder son then joined in, chasing and hacking the officer to death in a gruesome assault.

The police officer’s driver managed to escape and alerted authorities. Following the incident, five special teams have been formed to trace and arrest the three absconding accused.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has expressed deep shock and grief over the incident. In a statement, he conveyed condolences to the bereaved family and announced a solatium of Rs 30 lakh, along with a government job for one eligible family member.

While the ruling DMK condemned the incident, the opposition AIADMK has not yet issued an official response. Meanwhile, BJP leader Narayanan Thirupathy termed the murder “alarming” and said the state government must ensure law and order is maintained. “This is not a case of mere personal enmity. An honest government should step up to protect those who protect us,” he said.

The brutal killing just months ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has triggered widespread concern about the safety of police personnel on duty.