Mon Nov 04 16:16:54 UTC 2024: ## Man Goes on Rampage in Madurai and Sivaganga, Killing One and Injuring Several

**Madurai/Sivaganga, November 4, 2024:** A 30-year-old man, K. Gundumani, has been arrested in connection with a series of violent attacks that took place in Madurai and Sivaganga districts early Monday morning. Gundumani allegedly attacked his wife and her grandmother in Madurai, before traveling to Sivaganga where he killed one man and injured others.

The rampage began at around 3 a.m. when Gundumani attacked his wife, Pavithra, and her grandmother, Karuppayee, at their residence in Madurai. Both women were hospitalized, with Pavithra sustaining head injuries and Karuppayee suffering serious injuries to her hand. Gundumani’s motive for the attack is believed to be rooted in a domestic dispute. He had earlier sought custody of his 18-month-old child from the All Women Police Station in Madurai but was denied.

Following the attack in Madurai, Gundumani travelled to his hometown of Nattukudi in Sivaganga. There, he attacked a 55-year-old man named Balu on his leg with an ‘aruval’ (chopping knife) before targeting a woman drawing ‘kolam’ (traditional rice flour patterns) outside her house.

The climax of his rampage came when he attacked 70-year-old Ganesan, a branch secretary of the AIADMK, who was opening his grocery shop. The attack was fatal, and Ganesan died on the spot. This led to protests by local residents and AIADMK leaders, who blocked traffic demanding the arrest of the assailant.

Gundumani was eventually apprehended at the Sivaganga Collectorate while submitting a petition regarding a water supply issue in his area. Police believe that Gundumani may be mentally unstable, with suspicion pointing towards his possible involvement in a past theft of a Vinayagar idol from a temple in Nattukudi.

The attack has raised concerns about the mental health of the accused, and authorities are investigating the incident further. The police are also facing criticism for their response to the attacks and the actions of a policeman who shouted at journalists at the scene.

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