Chennai: S Velladurai, an additional superintendent of police who earned a sobriquet of ‘encounter specialist’ and a cop credited with gunning down forest brigand Veerappan in 2004, has been placed under suspension a day ahead of his retirement. Velladurai came to prominence after he killed history-sheeter ‘Ayodhyakuppam’ Veeramani in an encounter on the Marina. He was a member of the Special Task Force, which hunted down Veerappan.
He started his career as a sub-inspector of police and became the additional superintendent of police (AdSP). The suspension order cited his involvement in the custodial death of Kumar alias Kokki Kumar alias Ramu, 26, reported on Jun 6, 2013, at Thirupachethi in Sivaganga district. Kumar’s case was forwarded to the CB-CID inquiry and inspector of police S Geetha filed her final report before the court concerned in 2023 favouring closure of the case as Further Action Dropped (FAD).
Police said Kumar robbed Rs 500 from one P Suresh, a resident of Thiruppachethi near Avarangadu railway station. The cops led by the special sub-inspector Durai Singam went to apprehend Kumar. He attacked the cops with a sickle and tried to escape. In the melee, he fell into a pit and suffered injuries on his legs and body. Later, he was rushed to the Rajaji Government General Hospital in Madurai, where he was declared dead. Kumar was a close associate of M Prabhu and Bharathi of Pudukulam, who were killed in a police encounter in November 2013 for their involvement in the killing of the sub-inspector of police Alwin Sudhan of Thirupachethi police station while he was on bandobust duty of Marudhu Pandiyar Guru Puja festival held at Kalaiyar Koil on Jan 5, 2012.
After DMK assumed power on May 7, 2021, Velladurai was posted on deputation to monitor the gangsters threatening the businessmen and business houses in Sriperumbudur. Sources also said the home department held inquiries with the former inspector of police Lloyd Chandra of Marina police station when Velladurai killed the gangster Ayodhyakuppam Veeramani on Jul 23, 2003.
The suspension order cited his involvement in the custodial death of Kumar alias Kokki Kumar alias Ramu, 26, reported on Jun 6, 2013 at Thirupachethi in Sivaganga district. Tamil Nadu States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
