A 56-year-old DMK functionary was hacked to death while sleeping outside his house at Vellaiyur near Veeraganur in Salem district on Monday (July 6, 2026) night. The deceased was identified as S.S. Manickam, a district representative of the Salem East unit of the DMK.
According to the police, Manickam was sleeping on a cot outside his house while his second wife, Indira, was asleep inside. His elder son from his first marriage, Udhaya Prakash, was staying in a nearby house. Indira later found Manickam lying in a pool of blood with multiple cut injuries early on Tuesday and alerted the family members and neighbours, who informed the Veeraganur police. Police personnel rushed to the spot and sent the body to the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital, Salem, for post-mortem.
Attur Deputy Superintendent of Police Sathyaraj visited the scene, while Salem Superintendent of Police K. Kuthalingam inspected the spot and supervised the investigation. The murder triggered tension in the locality, with a large number of DMK cadre gathering at the victim’s residence after the news spread.
Police said Manickam had been involved in a long-standing dispute over agricultural land near his house. They are investigating whether the murder was linked to the dispute. Further investigation is underway.
Published - July 07, 2026 03:39 pm IST