A gang killed Vetrivel by mistake as the intended target was another cop named D. Sivasubramanian attached to the Kadayam police station, officials said here Tuesday. Vetrivel was in the Alwarkurichi police station in Tirunelveli district of southern Tamil Nadu.
The police Monday arrested D. Sivasubramanian's wife S. Sivakami and Ayyappan, a friend of Sivakami's brother. The brother had been arrested Saturday.

Meanwhile, A. Subramanian of Tuticorin district Monday surrendered in a Madurai court in connection with Vetrivel's murder.

With this the number of people in police custody in connection with Vetrivel's murder has gone up to six.

The police are on the lookout for the remaining members of the gang.
The death drew widespread condemnation of the ministers and officials who saw the policeman lying on the road and shouting for help, but they waited for an ambulance rather than take him to hospital in one of their cars. The incident figured in the state assembly Monday.