Gym trainer murdered in Chennai: A tale of enmity and revenge

CHENNAI: Chennai: A gym trainer was murdered by a gang while he was walking near his house in Ice House around 1 am on Thursday.
His friend, who tried to rescue him, also suffered injuries and was admitted to the Government Royapettah Hospital. Police detained seven suspects in connection with the murder.
The deceased man was identified as Dhanush, 23, a resident of Gajapathy Street in Ice House. Police said Dhanush, a BSc graduate, returned home with his friend Arunkumar, who lives at a house on the same street.
After Arunkumar dropped Dhanush in front of his house, he was headed to his own house when the gang, wielding deadly weapons, attacked Dhanush. Seeing his friend cornered by the gang, Arunkumar left his bike and ran to rescue him.
The assailants attacked Arunkumar and fled the scene after leaving Dhanush in a pool of blood. Upon receiving information, a police team from Ice House police station rushed to the spot and sent them to the Government Royapettah Hospital, where the doctors declared Dhanush dead on arrival.
Inquiries revealed that Dhanush was killed due to previous enmity. The team, led by the Ice House inspector Subbulakshmi, detained seven suspects, including two prime accused, Mohan alias ‘Nondi’ Mohan, and Senthil Kumar.
An investigation officer said Dhanush attacked Senthil Kumar and broke his nose following a verbal duel while singing a gana song at a cemetery during a funeral procession last year. Ice House police arrested Dhanush based on Senthil Kumar’s complaint, and the case is nearing completion.
As Dhanush believed the case would go against him, he sent his lawyer to meet Senthil Kumar to withdraw the case against him. However, Senthil Kumar refused to accept his deal.
Meanwhile, Dhanush picked up a quarrel with Mohan, who is involved in illegal drug peddling, and the latter decided to eliminate him as he posed a threat to his drug business in the neighbourhood.
Following this, Senthil Kumar and Mohan formed a gang to kill Dhanush. After maintaining surveillance, the gang members waited near Dhanush’s house and pounced on him as soon as he reached home in the morning.