History sheeter ‘Kakkathoppu’ Balaji shot dead by police in Vyasarpadi, Chennai

Police personnel at the BSNL quarters in Vyasarpadi, where Balaji was shot dead, on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

History-sheeter R. Balaji, alias ‘Kakkathoppu’ Balaji, 44, was shot dead by the police at a secluded place in Vyasarpadi on Wednesday.

According to the police, they shot at him in self-defence when Balaji opened fire at them. He was wanted in several criminal cases for offences, including murder.

Police sources said that a special sub-inspector (SSI) and a head constable had intercepted a car at Mullai Nagar in the early hours of Wednesday. Two persons were inside the vehicle, and when the policemen questioned the person next to the driver about the contents of his bag, he refused to respond.

Growing suspicious, they asked him to step out of the vehicle and began quizzing him. However, even as the questioning was under way, the driver sped away. The SSI informed the control room, which then issued an alert. Soon after, Kodungaiyur police inspector Saravanan, who was at the Mullainagar-Vyasarpadi road, spotted the car. Along with a few police personnel, he chased down the car as it entered the BSNL quarters in Vyasarpadi, the sources added.

Suddenly, the driver got out of the car and opened fire at the policemen with a country-made gun. A bullet hit the police vehicle. As he continued to shoot despite the inspector’s warning, the latter opened fire at him in an act of self defence. Later, the man was rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead, Pravesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police, North, said.

Ten kg of ganja and a knife were recovered from the car. The deceased was identified as Balaji, who had over 55 criminal cases – six for murder; 17 for attempt to murder; one for ganja trafficking; and 34 other cases – against him. Mr. Kumar said the police have detained Sathyamurthy, who was travelling with Balaji. A case has been registered. A magistrate has begun an inquiry into the cause of the death. The body was sent for post-mortem.

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