Tiruchirappalli district police have arrested six persons in connection with the murder of two 17-year-old boys near Samayapuram on Diwali night, November 8 — the killings first reported when the two teenagers were found attacked near the Samayapuram toll plaza area — and police opened fire on one of the accused after he allegedly attempted to attack officers while being taken to recover the weapons used in the crime, news agency ANI reported on Tuesday, November 11.

Source: ANI

Police identified the arrested men as Keni Vins, Karanishan, Saravanan, Sivaneshan, Kirubakaran and Hariharan. All six are accused in the case and are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The arrests followed a case registered at the Samayapuram police station on a family member's complaint, and police said CCTV footage, technical evidence and inquiries with witnesses led them to the six men, according to ANI.

Source: ANI

The Hindu, reporting the same arrests independently on Tuesday, said one of the accused was shot in the left knee by a police officer using his service weapon after he allegedly attempted to assault police personnel while being taken for weapon recovery.

Source: The Hindu

According to ANI, police took the accused Sivaneshan to recover the weapons allegedly used in the murders, and he allegedly hurled stones at the officers and tried to attack them with a concealed weapon. Despite warnings, he allegedly continued, and Inspector Gunasekaran opened fire, the bullet hitting Sivaneshan's left knee. The injured police personnel and Sivaneshan were taken to Srirangam Government Hospital and later shifted to Tiruchirappalli Government Hospital for further treatment.

Source: ANI

Police said a personal enmity is a possible motive being examined, but the exact motive can be established only as the investigation proceeds. The victims, both 17, are not being named in line with protections for minors. Tiruchirappalli District Police said further investigation is under way and that all legal procedures are being followed.

Source: ANI / The Hindu

The arrests are the first major breakthrough since the two teenagers were killed on Diwali night. Read the earlier report