He was proceeding in his two-wheeler to Ramakrishna Math

S. Vellaiyappan, an activist and the Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the Hindu Munnani, was murdered near the Muthu Mandapam on the banks of the Palar River behind the New Bus Stand here on Monday evening.

He was proceeding in his two-wheeler to the Ramakrishna Mutt when some unidentified persons attacked him on his head from behind. Mr. Vellaiyappan abandoned the vehicle and ran towards the dry Palar River. The attackers chased him, hacked in his neck and beat him on his head repeatedly till he fell dead. They immediately escaped. On hearing of the incident, Hindu Munnani volunteers rushed to the spot and blocked the New Katpadi Bridge demanding action against the assailants.

When the body of Mr. Vellaiyappan was being taken in an ambulance to the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital for post-mortem, the agitators blocked the ambulance and pelted it with stones. They also hurled stones at several buses on the service lane of the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway. A strong posse of policemen has been posted at the spot. After the body was taken to the hospital, the volunteers withdrew their agitation.

Forty-five-year-old Mr. Vellaiyappan, a native of Sankarankoil and a bachelor, was the organiser of Hindu Munnani activities in Vellore district for the last 20 years. Only on Wednesday, he participated in an agitation by the Munnani at the entrance to the Fort in Vellore against the takeover of Jalakanteswarar Temple by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department. Vijay Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Vellore district, said several teams had been formed to nab the culprits. “The motive for the murder is not yet known and we are engaged in gathering the clues and evidence”, he told The Hindu.