05-05-2025
17-year-old boy murdered during temple festival at Kulithalai in Karur
A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death by a man following a quarrel during a temple festival in Kulithalai, Karur district, on Sunday night (May 4, 2025).
The deceased R. Shyam Sundar, of Kulithalai, was a Class 12 student of a government higher secondary school. Shyam's friends J. Damodaran, 25, and R. Vasanth, 23, sustained injuries as they too were attacked by the accused, B. Nagendran, 22.
The police said the festival was being held at the Sri Mariyamman Temple in Kulithalai. As part of the celebration, a 'Poothattu' procession was taken out by devotees, who carried flowers as offerings to the goddess. The procession moved from Kollampattarai Street to the Mariyamman Temple late on Sunday night.
When the procession was under way, Nagendran and K. Logeswaran, 21, both of whom hail from Kulithalai, began dancing in front of the devotees in an inebriated state. Shyam and his friends Damodharan and Vasanth questioned the duo, leading to a quarrel between the two groups, said police sources.
The verbal duel took a turn for the worse, and Shyam and his two friends were allegedly attacked by Nagendran with a knife. Shyam, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to a hospital, where the doctors declared him dead. His body was taken to the Government Medical College Hospital, Karur, for autopsy.
Damodaran, who sustained injuries to his left ear and shoulder, was initially admitted to the Government Hospital, Kulithalai, but was subsequently referred to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi. Vasanth sustained an injury to his right shoulder and was treated at the Government Hospital, Kulithalai.
Police officials inspected the crime scene and conducted inquiries. The sources said four persons have been detained in connection with the murder.
