Chennai: A 25-year-old history-sheeter returning home after appearing before a court in connection with a murder case, was hacked to death by a six-member gang in full public view at a petrol station on the Chengalpet bypass on Tuesday.The deceased, Muthu Veera of Rajiv Gandhi Street in Urapakkam, had several criminal cases, including a murder case, pending against him and was out on bail, police said.On Tuesday, Muthu Veera appeared before a court in Chengalpet in connection with the murder case. After the hearing, he left the court on a motorcycle along with two friends. When the bike ran out of petrol, he stopped at a fuel station, when six men, who arrived on two motorcycles, surrounded him. The gang chased away his two friends and repeatedly attacked Muthu Veera with sickles.Four employees and a customer at the petrol bunk panicked on seeing the attack and ran for cover. Muthu Veera suffered multiple cut injuries and died on the spot. The assailants then fled on their motorcycles. Chengalpet Taluk police sent his to Chengalpettu Govt Hospital for postmortem.Police registered a murder case and are examining CCTV footage to identify the assailants, and trace the registration numbers of the motorcycles used by them.Police suspect the killing could be the result of previous enmity and are probing whether a rival gang carried out the attack in retaliation for an earlier incident. Further investigation is on.
