Chennai cop shot dead in Rajasthan

A police inspector from Chennai was shot dead by robbers early on Wednesday at Jaitaran in the Pali district of Rajasthan.

Inspector Periyapandi, of Maduravoyal police station Chennai, was shot dead while Inspector Muni Sekar, who accompanied him, suffered serious injuries.

Periyapandi was part of a special eight-member team to nab suspects associated with a gold heist which took place on November 16.

The robbers had drilled a hole through the roof of a jewelry shop in Rajamangalam and escaped with 3.5 kg gold and cash. The CCTV footage showed two persons carrying bags containing the loot.

The police got information that the suspects were hiding in a deserted brick kiln. Periyapandi and his team were on a search operation to nab the suspects.

"The suspects attacked the police with rods and snatched the revolver from Periyapandi's hand and shot him dead on the spot", Pali circle officer confirmed.

Two days ago, based on a tip-off, Periyapandi's team had nabbed four people from Rajasthan, who allegedly helped their relative in a robbery at Rajamangalam.

The suspects are Chennaram, Ellaram, Shankar Lal and Dauram, all from Pali district.