Chennai, Apr 2 (UNI) A notorious rowdy was shot dead in an encounter

when he tried to flee after attacking the police, inflicting cut injuries on

them, besides attacking a couple of lorry drivers after robbing them, in

Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

District Superintendent of Police Jayakumar told reporters that the rowdy

Vijay alias 'Muttai' Vijay was involved in more than 30 cases of waylaying

and burglaries in Puducherry, Cuddalore, Villuppuram and neighbouring

districts and was the head of a six-member gang, five of whom were

already arrested.

He said during the last two days Vijay waylaid lorries on the Puducherry-

Nagapattinam National Highway near Cuddalore, robbed them, attacked

them with sickles and decamped with Rs 3,000 cash, cellphones and their

personal belongings.

He first waylaid a lorry, attacked its driver Kalimuthu and robbed cash and

cellphone from him.

He later waylaid another lorry, attacked the driver Manimaran with a knife

and robbed him. He was also involved in another waylaying incident.

Both the drivers were admitted to government hospital and were undergoing

treatment.

A special team formed to nab the gang, arrested five of them and were on

the look out for Vijay.

After getting information that he was hiding at M.Pudur area behind TB Hospital,

the Special team went to arrest him.

However, he attacked two cops with a sickle and tried to escape. Despite, the

police issuing three warnings and asked him to surrender, he refused and tried

to attack the police again.

In an act of self-defence and to save the lives of the cops, the Inspector opened

fire at him, killing him on the spot.

His body was later shifted to Government hospital for post mortem.

Mr Jayakumar said five of the six gang members were from Puducherry and the

other person was a native of Villuppuram district.

UNI GV 1715