Man wanted for double murder shot at, arrested in Salem

A 55-year-old man, who allegedly murdered two elderly women in Salem earlier this week, was shot at and arrested by the police on Friday (November 7, 2025). The accused C. Ayyanar sustained bullet injuries to his leg while allegedly trying to escape after attacking the police.

The police said the accused faced several cases of murder and was even convicted in a couple of them.

According to the police, A. Periyammal, 75, a resident of Thadanur Kattuvalavu near Edaganasalai, and M. Pavayee, 70, a resident of E. Kattur, had taken their cattle out for grazing on Monday (November 3). The women did not return home. On Tuesday (November 4), their bodies were found in stagnant water in a stone quarry in the village. Investigations revealed that the women were murdered for their two-sovereign gold earrings.

The Magudanchavadi police registered a case. They identified the accused as Ayyanar, a resident of Kamalapuram, and were on the lookout for him.

In the early hours of Friday, acting on a tip-off, the Magudanchavadi police led by Inspector Senthil Kumar went to Orukkamalai near Sankari, where the accused was hiding. The police said when they surrounded the accused, he tried to escape by attacking Sub-Inspector Kannan using a knife and tried to stab Inspector Senthil Kumar and Constable Karthikeyan.

To prevent his escape, Inspector Senthil Kumar shot him in his right leg. The accused sustained injuries and was admitted to Salem Government Hospital. The sub-inspector sustained injuries to his hand.

The police said, in the past, the accused faced several murder cases. These included three murder cases in 2000 and two murder cases in 2004. He was acquitted for want of conclusive evidence in three of the cases.

In the 2004 murder cases, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He secured remission and was released from prison in September 2018, the police added.