While the accused G. Nagaraj (25) of devadanam sustained a bullet injury on his leg, SI KOTAIPAsamy sustained a cut on his hand | Photo credit: special arrangement
One of the accused in the Devadanam temple double murder case – in which two temple guards were hacked to death on Monday (November 10, 2025) night – was shot dead by a police team in the early hours of Wednesday (November 12) when he allegedly attacked a police sub-inspector in an attempt to escape from custody.
While accused G. Nagaraj (25) of Devadanam sustained a bullet injury on his leg, SI Kottaiyappasamy sustained cuts on his hand. Both were admitted to the Rajapalayam Government Hospital.
The police arrested Nagaraj on the night of Tuesday, November 11. In the early hours of Wednesday, a team of officials from Seithura police station, led by Inspector Ramesh Kannan, took him to a remote location near Dhalavaipuram Junction, where Nagaraj confessed to hiding the weapon — which was allegedly used to kill the guards — and the stolen temple ornaments.
Police alleged that Nagaraj took out a machete from the bushes and attacked Kottaiappasamy in an attempt to escape. Ramesh Kannan opened fire to prevent him from attacking the SI again, police said. They recovered a silver lamp and some other ornaments that belonged to the Nachadai Thavirtharuliyaswamy temple at Devadanam.
According to the police, along with Muniyasamy of the same locality, Nagaraj climbed over the compound wall of the temple on Monday evening and tried to break the hundial. Two security personnel — Petchimuthu, 55, and Sankarapandian, 60 — who were on duty inside the temple resisted their attempt but were hacked to death by the accused.
Although the accused damaged some camera systems and stole a digital video recorder, they failed to notice another camera network available in the temple’s sanctum which recorded their movements during the robbery.
Based on the video footage, the police arrested Nagaraj. Muniyasamy is absconding, the police said, adding that efforts are being made to arrest him.
Published – November 12, 2025 12:45 PM IST
