AIADMK ward secretary murdered in Pondicherry

Chennai: In the latest in a series of killings of political functionaries and leaders, an unidentified gang near Puducherry on Sunday morning hacked to death a 43-year-old AIADMK ward secretary. The victim was identified as Baktha alias Padmanadhan, a resident of Navaneeth Nagar and was the AIADMK ward secretary in Cuddalore. On Saturday, he had gone to attend a temple festival at Thirupanampakkam near Puducherry.

When he was returning home on his motorcycle on Sunday morning after the festival, he was ambushed by a gang in a car. The gang knocked him down and killed him and then fled from the spot, police said. Police suspect that the gang is from Cuddalore and are investigating to find out the motive behind the murder. A case has been registered.