History-sheeter killed in encounter with Chennai police

CHENNAI: In an early-morning operation, Chennai police gunned down a history-sheeter and a murder suspect, aged 20 years, at a park behind Madhavaram new bus terminus, north Chennai.
The deceased Vallarasu, was involved in five cases, including a murder and an attempt to murder case, apart from robbery and snatching cases, said police.
The incident occurred at 4.20am on Saturday, when a team from Vyasarpadi police station rounded up three – Vallarasu and his two associates Kathiravan (33) and Karthik (32).When sub-inspectors Deepan and Prem Kumar chased the gang and managed to corner Vallarasu alone, he attacked them with the machete in a bid to escape.
As constable Pounraj was injured on his forehead, police opened fire, pumping a bullet on Vallarasu’s leg and two in the chest. He was rushed to Government Stanley Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. His body will be handed over to his family after autopsy on Saturday.
The two associates, however, managed to flee the spot, and police are on the lookout for him.
The injured constable Pounraj required 20 sutures. Chennai city police commissioner A K Viswanathan visited Apollo Hospital and inquired about his health. On information, North Chennai additional commissioner of police R Dhinakaran visited the encounter site at Madhavaram and made spot inspection.
Additional police posse has been deployed near Vallarasu’s house in Vyasarpadi to maintain law and order in the neighbourhood.
Police said Vallarasu joined hands with Kathir alias Karthiravan and wanted to form his own gang. Following this, police team led by assistant commissioner of police B Alagesan, inspectors of police Ponraj Miller and M Ravi was tasked to apprehend Vallarasu and his aides.
The last encounter killing that occurred in Chennai was July 2018 when Kotturpuram police gunned down hsistorysheeter Anandan.