Chennai: Fish vendor killed by rivals, 8 nabbed

Chennai: A fish vendor, who had shifted his business from his own turf to a new area, was hacked to death by his professional rivals on Monday early 
morning.

The victim had been identified as Seenivasan (45) of Kasimedu. Seenivasan was selling fishes in Kasimedu for many years and he had recently shifted to Medavakkam near Tambaram to sell fishes. 

“He brought fresh fishes from Kasimedu fishing harbour and sold at the lesser cost than that of other fish vendors sold them,” a police source said. Police, meanwhile, arrested eight persons namely Sathish, Ajith, Bharath, Vijay, Rajiv, Vicky, Dinesh and Naveen, all of them on their early 20s, in connection with the 
murder.

Due to the good patronage from customers, other vendors had apparently developed a grudge against him and that had led to many brawls between Seenivasan and others. During the last week, Seenivasan and other fish vendors had reportedly engaged in a fight in which Seenivasan had got upper hand, the police said.

On Monday morning at 4 am, Seenivasan went for a morning walk but did not return until 6.30 am. “He usually returns at 4.30 am and departs to Kasimedu to buy fishes to be sold at Medavakkam. Due to prolonged delay, his family members  searched frantically at many places only to find his dead body near Quaide Milleth College on Tambaram — Velachery Road,” the police said.

The family alerted the Pallikaranai police and the police had sent the body to Chromepet Government Hospital for the autopsy. The police also registered a case and are investigating.

“Seenivasan had suffered a severe cut on the back of his head. By noticing the injuries and blood stains on the road, it could be ascertained that a gang of four or five, allegedly fish vendors, might have chased and hacked him to death. He also suffered cut injuries on head, legs and hands,” the police source said.