‘Cop killer’ gunned down in ‘encounter’ during escape attempt By Sagaya Fernando | August 8, 2025 Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, INDIA: The Tamil Nadu police on Thursday August 7 shot dead a murder accused during an encounter near Tiruppur, following the brutal killing of a Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) on August 5. The deceased, identified as M Manigandan (32) from Dindigul district, was the prime suspect in the murder of SSI M Shanmugavel (57), who was hacked to death while responding to a domestic violence complaint. The incident occurred at Chikkanur in Gudimangalam, where Manigandan and his family worked and lived on a farmland owned by AIADMK MLA C Mahendran. On Tuesday August 5 night, SSI Shanmugavel and a constable responded to a call about a violent altercation involving Manigandan, his brother Thangapandi, and their father Moorthy—all reportedly under the influence of alcohol. While attempting to mediate the dispute and calling an ambulance for Moorthy, the officer was fatally attacked with a sickle by Manigandan. He died on the spot. Manigandan, along with his father and brother, fled the scene after the murder. Moorthy (60) and Thangapandi (30) were arrested on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody. Later that night, a special police team tracked Manigandan to a hideout in Chikkanur. On Thursday morning, a seven-member police team led by Gudimangalam Inspector Thirugnanasambandhan took Manigandan to the Upparu stream to recover the murder weapon. According to police, Manigandan retrieved the sickle from the spot and launched a sudden attack on the team, injuring Sub-Inspector Saravanakumar on his right hand. Police said that despite warnings, Manigandan continued his assault and attempted to flee, prompting Inspector Thirugnanasambandhan to open fire. While the first shot missed, the second bullet struck Manigandan in the forehead, killing him instantly. His body was sent to the Tiruppur Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. Sub-Inspector Saravanakumar was treated at the Udumalpet Government Hospital for his injuries. The incident has reignited the debate around police encounters in Tamil Nadu. Manigandan’s killing marks the third police encounter in the state in 2025, following similar incidents in Chennai earlier this year. Tiruppur Superintendent of Police Yadav Girish defended the action, stating that officers had no choice but to open fire in self-defence. “The accused was warned twice to surrender the weapon but continued to attack our personnel. We were forced to act to protect our officers,” he said. However, the encounter drew sharp criticism from human rights activists and political leaders. Congress MPs Karti P Chidambaram and Sasikanth Senthil condemned the killing, calling it an extra-judicial execution. Senthil, a former IAS officer, questioned whether the murder of a police officer justified what he termed a "cold-blooded killing" by the State. “Manigandan was a poor labourer, not a hardened criminal. The State cannot take the law into its own hands,” he said. Manigandan and his brother reportedly had multiple criminal cases pending against them in Dindigul and Theni districts, including charges of rioting, theft, and attempted murder. In the wake of SSI Shanmugavel’s death, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai urged the state government to implement key policing reforms. He recommended arming Special Sub-Inspectors, equipping them with modern tools such as tasers and body cameras, and introducing a buddy system to prevent solo patrols. He also called for filling vacancies and constructing new police stations in newly formed districts to reduce the workload on existing personnel. The State Police, meanwhile, have maintained that the encounter was lawful and necessary under the circumstances. Judicial Magistrate R H Umadevi has launched an inquiry into the shooting

By Sagaya Fernando | August 8, 2025

Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, INDIA: The Tamil Nadu police on Thursday August 7 shot dead a murder accused during an encounter near Tiruppur, following the brutal killing of a Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) on August 5. The deceased, identified as M Manigandan (32) from Dindigul district, was the prime suspect in the murder of SSI M Shanmugavel (57), who was hacked to death while responding to a domestic violence complaint.

The incident occurred at Chikkanur in Gudimangalam, where Manigandan and his family worked and lived on a farmland owned by AIADMK MLA C Mahendran. On Tuesday August 5 night, SSI Shanmugavel and a constable responded to a call about a violent altercation involving Manigandan, his brother Thangapandi, and their father Moorthy—all reportedly under the influence of alcohol. While attempting to mediate the dispute and calling an ambulance for Moorthy, the officer was fatally attacked with a sickle by Manigandan. He died on the spot.

Manigandan, along with his father and brother, fled the scene after the murder. Moorthy (60) and Thangapandi (30) were arrested on Wednesday and remanded in judicial custody.

Later that night, a special police team tracked Manigandan to a hideout in Chikkanur. On Thursday morning, a seven-member police team led by Gudimangalam Inspector Thirugnanasambandhan took Manigandan to the Upparu stream to recover the murder weapon. According to police, Manigandan retrieved the sickle from the spot and launched a sudden attack on the team, injuring Sub-Inspector Saravanakumar on his right hand.

Police said that despite warnings, Manigandan continued his assault and attempted to flee, prompting Inspector Thirugnanasambandhan to open fire. While the first shot missed, the second bullet struck Manigandan in the forehead, killing him instantly. His body was sent to the Tiruppur Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem.

Sub-Inspector Saravanakumar was treated at the Udumalpet Government Hospital for his injuries.

The incident has reignited the debate around police encounters in Tamil Nadu. Manigandan’s killing marks the third police encounter in the state in 2025, following similar incidents in Chennai earlier this year.

Tiruppur Superintendent of Police Yadav Girish defended the action, stating that officers had no choice but to open fire in self-defence. “The accused was warned twice to surrender the weapon but continued to attack our personnel. We were forced to act to protect our officers,” he said.

However, the encounter drew sharp criticism from human rights activists and political leaders. Congress MPs Karti P Chidambaram and Sasikanth Senthil condemned the killing, calling it an extra-judicial execution.

Senthil, a former IAS officer, questioned whether the murder of a police officer justified what he termed a "cold-blooded killing" by the State. “Manigandan was a poor labourer, not a hardened criminal. The State cannot take the law into its own hands,” he said.

Manigandan and his brother reportedly had multiple criminal cases pending against them in Dindigul and Theni districts, including charges of rioting, theft, and attempted murder.

In the wake of SSI Shanmugavel’s death, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai urged the state government to implement key policing reforms. He recommended arming Special Sub-Inspectors, equipping them with modern tools such as tasers and body cameras, and introducing a buddy system to prevent solo patrols. He also called for filling vacancies and constructing new police stations in newly formed districts to reduce the workload on existing personnel.

The State Police, meanwhile, have maintained that the encounter was lawful and necessary under the circumstances. Judicial Magistrate R H Umadevi has launched an inquiry into the shooting