CHENNAI : The city police arrested 503 anti-social elements, habitual offenders and wanted persons in various pending cases in a `storming operation' that commenced late evening on Saturday.

Following the brutal murders in Chetpet, Choolaimedu, Vysarpadi Korattur and Thorapakkam police station limits during the last two days, the police had stepped up the vigil and booked anti-socials, who were allegedly hiding in various places.

Commissioner of Police Letika Saran and Additional Commissioner S.R. Jangid directed all the officers to secure known anti-social elements in their respective jurisdictions.

Accused held

The police arrested three persons — Kandan (40), Mubarak (22) and Gopal (20) of Tiruvanmiyur who had allegedly murdered Prasanth (28) of the same locality and abandoned the body inside a four-wheeler near a canal in Neelankarai police station limits on Saturday.

According to a press release, Prasanth had come out from prison few months ago after serving time under the Goondas Act. It is suspected that a previous enmity over sharing of ransom money resulted in the death of Prasanth. His mobile phone, with bloodstains, was found near a temple in Tiruvanmiyur and hence it is likely that he was murdered and his body taken in the vehicle, which was found abandoned near the canal.

Fresh murder

Even as police arrested many wanted rowdy elements, there was a fresh case of murder in T.P. Chatram where, a 39-year-old man, was brutally killed in front of his house by a four-member armed gang on Sunday forenoon.

Police identified the deceased as Murugan, who was living in Parameswaran Nagar 3rd Street with his wife and two sons.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that his rivals could have committed the crime as Murugan was allegedly involved in a murder case sometime ago. A senior officer said a hunt was on to nab the gang.

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