Chennai: An A-plus category history-sheeter facing 23 criminal cases was shot in the leg by police after he allegedly attacked a head constable with a knife. He was trying to escape after being caught with 21.6kg of ganja during a police operation in Tambaram on Saturday night.Police said Selvakumar alias Chella, 29, a resident of Otteri Extension and an A plus category history-sheeter with 23 criminal cases against him, was arrested around 11 pm along with his associate, Kanagu alias Kanakaraj, 33, another A plus category history-sheeter from Kilambakkam.Acting on the instructions of Tambaram City Police Commissioner Prem Anand Sinha, a special police team launched a search operation following intelligence inputs about the movement of contraband. During the operation, the team intercepted Selvakumar alias Chella and Kanagu alias Kanakaraj near a vacant plot at Mannivakkam and found them in possession of 21.6 kg of ganja. Police seized the contraband along with the motorcycle used by the accused.While the police were escorting them to the station, Selvakumar attacked head constable Anandaraj with a knife, causing injuries to his left hand. In response, sub-inspector Sathishkumar of Otteri police station opened fire, hitting Selvakumar on his right leg.Selvakumar was rushed to the govt hospital in Tambaram, where he is undergoing treatment. The injured head constable also received medical treatment.Police said Selvakumar is the leader of an organised criminal gang with around 50 associates and is considered one of the most influential rowdies operating within the Tambaram City Police limits and neighbouring districts. He has been named in 23 criminal cases, including three murders, three attempted murders, one kidnapping case, four NDPS cases and several other offences.Police said Selvakumar was one of the accused in the 2024 murder of DMK functionary Aramuthan, the Kattankolathur North Union secretary and vice-chairman of the Kattankolathur panchayat union. According to police, Aramuthan was killed near the Vandalur bus stand in February 2024 after assailants hurled a country-made bomb before attacking him with knives. Selvakumar was later detained under the Goondas Act in connection with the case.Police said he has been involved in a long-standing and violent gang rivalry with another A-plus category history-sheeter, Silambarasan, resulting in repeated retaliatory attacks. Police sources said that Selvakumar continued to coordinate his gang’s activities and planned further attacks against rival groups, posing a threat to public order.
