Police sub-inspector shoots at history-sheeter for attacking during escape bid in Vellore

VELLORE A 33-year-old sub-inspector attached to the Gudiyatham Taluk police shot at a murder suspect, injuring hism in right leg, after the latter reportedly attacked the officer with a machete in a bid to escape at Sengundram village near Gudiyatham town in Vellore, early Tuesday (November 10, 2026). The police identified the injured sub-inspector as S. Raja, who has been working with the Gudiyatham Taluk police for the past six months after he was shifted from Vellore town.

The suspect, K. Poovarasan, 29, is reportedly facing more than 20 criminal cases across several police stations in the district. The police said that around 5 a.m, a special police team, led by Gudiyatham Taluk Inspector Tamilselvan, took the suspect Poovarasan to a house in Sengundram village to check for stashed weapons stashed in a hideout, after he allegedly shot a local PMK functionary dead with a countrymade gun on Monday (November 9) evening.

The police said that at the house, Poovarasan, without warning, reportedly took out a machete and attacked sub-inspector Raja before attempting to flee. The sub-inspector then shot at him, injuring him on his right ankle. Poovarasan was subsequently arrested. The sub-inspector sustained injuries to was injured on his left arm. Immediately,Sub-inspector Raja and suspect Poovarasan were admitted toat Government Taluk Hospital in Gudiyatham town around 6.30 a.m.

Superintendent of Police N.U. Sivaraman visited the injured sub-inspector at the hospital. “Later, Poovarasan was shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital in Vellore for gunshot injuries where he is admitted to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). The condition of the injured sub-inspector is stable,” said S. Manjunath, Chief Medical Officer, Gudiyatham Taluk Hospital.

The police said that Poovarasan was arrested after he shot Gnanavel, 49, a local PMK functionary, near a bus stop in the village on Monday evening due to a previous enmity. Ragu, 40, Gnanavel’s friend, was also injured in the incident. Based on an alert from residents, the Gudiyatham Taluk police inspected the spot and arrested Poovarasan from his hideout in the village. Ragu was shifted to Vellore GH.

A case was registered, and further probe is under way.