<p>Police claimed the incident occurred when the accused, Mohanraj, was being taken near Pollachi on the city outskirts, where he had thrown 11-year-old Muskin and her brother Ritik Jain (7) into a canal after raping the girl. Two policemen were also injured in the "encounter".<br /><br />As the police van reached Kuppamedu, Mohanraj, in his 20s, "suddenly" snatched a revolver from escorting sub-inspector Muthumalai and asked the driver to take the vehicle to Kerala, Police Commissioner Sylendra Babu told reporters here.<br /><br />After the driver refused to do so, Mohanraj fired at Muthumalai and Jyothi, another sub-inspector, who, however, managed to overpower him before Inspector Annadurai fired three rounds at the accused, killing him instantly, he said.<br /><br />Mohanraj received bullet injuries on his chest, right eye and middle of the forehead, he said, adding Muthumalai and Joythi, who were injured in the incident, had been admitted to a government hospital here.<br /><br />The issue today had an echo in Tamil Nadu Assembly where opposition AIADMK and MDMK staged a walk-out after the Speaker refused them permission for raising it.<br /><br />Muskin and Ritik, children of a textile merchant here, were allegedly abducted by Mohanraj, their former van driver, when they were on their way to school on October 29.<br /><br />Mohanraj had initially planned to demand a ransom, but was overcome by fear of police action and killed the children by pushing them into a canal. He was arrested 11 days ago.<br /><br />The girl was allegedly raped by Mohanraj and his friend Manoharan. The bodies were recovered a few days later.<br /><br />The incident had evoked public outrage with people throwing eggs on Mohanraj when he was brought to a court soon after their arrest.<br /><br />Shocked by the incident, Coimbatore went into a mourning with students and teachers wearing black badges and holding prayers on the day of cremation of the victims.</p>
<p>Police claimed the incident occurred when the accused, Mohanraj, was being taken near Pollachi on the city outskirts, where he had thrown 11-year-old Muskin and her brother Ritik Jain (7) into a canal after raping the girl. Two policemen were also injured in the "encounter".<br /><br />As the police van reached Kuppamedu, Mohanraj, in his 20s, "suddenly" snatched a revolver from escorting sub-inspector Muthumalai and asked the driver to take the vehicle to Kerala, Police Commissioner Sylendra Babu told reporters here.<br /><br />After the driver refused to do so, Mohanraj fired at Muthumalai and Jyothi, another sub-inspector, who, however, managed to overpower him before Inspector Annadurai fired three rounds at the accused, killing him instantly, he said.<br /><br />Mohanraj received bullet injuries on his chest, right eye and middle of the forehead, he said, adding Muthumalai and Joythi, who were injured in the incident, had been admitted to a government hospital here.<br /><br />The issue today had an echo in Tamil Nadu Assembly where opposition AIADMK and MDMK staged a walk-out after the Speaker refused them permission for raising it.<br /><br />Muskin and Ritik, children of a textile merchant here, were allegedly abducted by Mohanraj, their former van driver, when they were on their way to school on October 29.<br /><br />Mohanraj had initially planned to demand a ransom, but was overcome by fear of police action and killed the children by pushing them into a canal. He was arrested 11 days ago.<br /><br />The girl was allegedly raped by Mohanraj and his friend Manoharan. The bodies were recovered a few days later.<br /><br />The incident had evoked public outrage with people throwing eggs on Mohanraj when he was brought to a court soon after their arrest.<br /><br />Shocked by the incident, Coimbatore went into a mourning with students and teachers wearing black badges and holding prayers on the day of cremation of the victims.</p>