State Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) K Radhakrishnan, who visited the scene of the attack, told reporters in Tirunelveli on Saturday that three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder.
Vetrivel (44) was bombed and hacked in a case of mistaken identity on Thursday in Alwarkurichi by a gang over a family feud involving another sub-inspector Sivasubramanian.
A search was on for 11 persons, including Sivagami, wife of Sivasubramanian, whom the gang had actually targetted to kill, Radhakrishnan said.
The three arrested included Kandasamy, brother-in law of Sivasubramanian, and a 62-year old retired SI, relative of Sivagami.
The death of Vetrivel, who was a member of Special Task Force that gunned down forest brigand Veerappan in 2004, evoked a national outcry with AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa demanding sacking of the two ministers, alleging they did not help the policeman.
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