Chennai, 16 March (H.S.): A notorious history-sheeter wanted in connection with a major robbery and several other criminal cases was shot dead in a police encounter near the Madhavaram Roundabout in north Chennai on Monday morning. The deceased was identified as Thoppai Ganesh, who had been on the radar of the city police for a series of violent offences.
Police said Ganesh had been absconding after being named as one of the key accused in a robbery that took place on January 30 near the Madhavaram Roundabout area. During the incident, a gang allegedly looted ₹25 lakh in cash and around 15 sovereigns of gold, prompting a large-scale search operation by the police.
Based on specific intelligence inputs, a special police team tracked Ganesh to the Madhavaram area early Monday morning. When officers attempted to detain him, he allegedly attacked the police personnel and tried to escape from the spot, leading to a confrontation.
During the scuffle that followed, the police opened fire in what officials described as an act of self-defence. Ganesh sustained gunshot injuries and was immediately rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, where doctors declared him dead.
Police sources said Ganesh had a long criminal record and several cases, including murder and robbery, were registered against him in different police stations. Investigators believe he was part of a gang involved in a series of violent crimes in parts of north Chennai and neighbouring districts.
The incident comes at a time when Chennai has witnessed a rise in police encounters targeting history-sheeters and organised criminal gangs. In recent months, the city police have intensified operations against repeat offenders as part of a broader drive to curb violent crime and strengthen law and order.
Police said further investigations are under way to identify and apprehend other suspects believed to have been involved in the January 30 robbery case. Security has also been tightened in several parts of north Chennai as part of the ongoing crackdown on criminal networks.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
