After a seven-year-long investigation, the Thoothukudi police have arrested four individuals in connection with the 2018 murder of Ponnusamy in the Nagalapuram forest area. The suspects were apprehended on Monday and have been identified as K Gopalakrishnan alias Kodangi (64), E Karuppasamy (40), S Rajarajan (36), and K Ramakrishnan (55).
Ponnusamy, also known as Kumar, was found murdered in a remote part of Nagalapuram on December 23, 2018, after a drunken brawl. Following his death, a murder case was filed at the Sankaralingapuram police station, based on the injury marks found on his body. However, the case had remained unsolved for several years due to a lack of strong evidence and an unclear motive.
In February, Superintendent of Police Albert John formed a special investigative team, led by Vilathikulam Sub-Division DSP Ashokan, to re-examine the case. The team reviewed witness statements, digital evidence, the injuries on the suspects, and the testimony of the victim’s family. They also investigated individuals who had left the village after the incident.
This renewed, technical approach to the investigation eventually led to a breakthrough. The police digitally confirmed the presence of the accused at the scene of the murder and linked their injuries to the brawl that resulted in Ponnusamy’s death. Furthermore, the fact that all four suspects had been missing from the village for over three years raised strong suspicions, further strengthening the case against them.
The suspects were arrested and are now facing charges in connection with the murder, bringing a long-awaited resolution to the case.
