In a dramatic encounter, 26-year-old Naresh Kumar was shot and arrested by police near Sankari on Saturday after he stabbed two officers during an attempted arrest. The accused was wanted for the brutal murder of a 65-year-old woman, Saraswathi, who was attacked and robbed while grazing her cows near Deevattipatty on May 20.
The Deevattipatty police had launched an investigation and identified R. Naresh Kumar, a native of Kattikaranur in Omalur, as the main suspect. Acting on a tip-off, Sub-Inspector Vijayaraghavan and his team tracked him to a hillock near Sankari.
“While trying to arrest him, Naresh stabbed SI Vijayaraghavan and constable Selva Kumar, both of whom sustained serious injuries,” a senior official stated. “As he refused to surrender even after dropping the knife, police shot him in the right leg in self-defence.”
A History of Violence:
Initial investigations reveal that Naresh Kumar has a criminal history spanning over 20 cases, including:
A 2020 murder and robbery of another elderly woman in Mallur
A COVID-era murder case
Escaping custody while infected during the pandemic
Threatening police escorts during court appearances
Police confirmed that Naresh specifically targets elderly women, often those herding goats or cows alone in rural areas.
After the arrest, Naresh Kumar was taken to Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital for treatment. The injured police personnel are also receiving medical care.
The case has triggered concerns about rural safety and the repeated crimes against elderly women by known offenders.