Tamil Nadu police gun down two criminals after they attacked officers on duty

The two injured criminals were taken to the Chengalpattu government hospital, where they were declared dead

The Tamil Nadu police on Tuesday shot dead two criminals – identified as Chota Vinod and Ramesh – outside Chennai in the wee hours of the day after they and two accomplices attacked the cops with weapons during a routine vehicle check in Guduvanchery.

For representational purposes. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Around 3.30am, a police patrol team stopped a group of four men who were speeding in a black SUV. “They did not stop the car but rammed into one of the police officers on duty,” said a senior police officer.

“All four got out of the car with weapons and tried to assault the policemen. One of the criminals slashed the left arm of an assistant inspector with a machete. He had aimed for the head. Upon seeing this, the policemen shot at them. The other two escaped,” the officer said.

The two criminals who were gunned down died on their way to the hospital. The duo has several criminal cases pending against them. While 35-year-old Vinod has 50 cases registered against him in Otteri police station, out of which 10 are for murder and 15 for attempt to murder, 32-year-old Ramesh has 15 cases of assault and extortion against him.

“The two injured criminals were taken to the Chengalpattu government hospital, where they were declared dead,” additional commissioner of police Pa Moorthy said.