CHENNAI: A 34-year-old animal welfare activist was hacked to death following an argument over bursting firecrackers on a public road in Thiruvottiyur, on Monday night.Police arrested three men, including the prime accused, in connection with the murder.The deceased, Pavithran of Kaladipet, had worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative and was currently unemployed. He was known for feeding stray dogs and taking injured animals to veterinary hospitals for treatment.Police said Pavithran was riding his motorcycle along Vanniyar Street to meet a friend on West Mada Street when he came across Balaji, a local resident, and his friends bursting firecrackers on the road.Some crackers landed on Pavithran, following which he stopped and questioned them for recklessly bursting crackers.An argument broke out, during which Pavithran slapped one of Balaji’s friends.Enraged by this, Balaji took out a knife and stabbed him. Pavithran abandoned his motorcycle and attempted to escape, but Balaji chased and hacked him to death.Thiruvottiyur police registered a murder case and arrested Balaji, Surya, 27, and Kishore, 28. Madan, 27, another friend of Balaji, sustained injuries to their hands while attempting to intervene and was admitted to Govt Stanley Hospital.Police said preliminary investigations revealed that Balaji, Surya and Kishore had criminal cases, including those related to ganja sales, assault and attempted murder.
