A 50-year-old man was allegedly hacked to death by an unidentified gang near Koovathur in Chengalpattu district on Sunday night. Police suspect that he was murdered due to previous enmity. Relatives of the victim staged a protest along the ECR on Monday, demanding strict action against the suspects. 

The victim has been identified as Mohanraj, 50, a petrol bunk owner. On Sunday night, while he was returning home on his bike after finishing his work,  four unidentified men who came on two bikes waylaid him near Koovathur. They attacked him with knives, leaving him bleeding on the road and then fled the scene. Mohanraj, found by passersby, was rushed towards the Government General Hospital, Chengalpattu but died on the way, the police said.

Police has launched an investigatigation and were scanning CCTV footage and mobile tower data to trace the killers. The murder was suspected in retaliation for an altercation that took place at the petrol bunk two weeks ago.  On Monday morning, Mohanraj’s friends and family staged a protest along the ECR, demanding swift arrests. Traffic was thrown out of gear, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. Senior police officials assured action, following which the protest dispersed from there.