Former panchayat president hacked to death near Sikkal; one arrested

A former panchayat president was hacked to death due to previous enmity near Sikkal here on Friday. A young man belonging to the same village was arrested in connection with this.

Police said, Arthur, 60, was a resident of Siraikulam village near Sikal in Ramanathapuram district. He was a former panchayat president of Siraikulam panchayat.

He and his friend Sendoorkanthan, 66, from Sikal village had gone to the TASMAC shop on the Sikal East Coast Road on Friday night and were returning. At that time, a person intercepted Arthur and hacked him with a sickle on multiple parts of his body.

Arthur died on the spot. Sendoorkanthan, who tried to stop the attack, also sustained cut injuries on his back and mouth.

Following this, Sendoorkanthan was rescued and admitted to the Ramanathapuram Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.