A 56-year-old Village Administrative Officer (VAO) of Murappanadu in Thoothukudi district, identified as Lourdhu Francis, was hacked to death allegedly by members of sand mining mafia operating along the Thamirabarani watercourse, while he was at his office on Tuesday (April 25) afternoon. His family alleged that he had been facing threats from the mafia and was not given police protection, even though he had asked for it.
According to the police, Mr. Francis was working as the VAO of Murappanadu, on the Thoothukudi – Palayamkottai Highway, a region known for illegal sand mining. As he was reportedly informing the police and his higher-ups about the illegal sand miners operating in the area, he had earned the mafia’s enmity.
On Tuesday afternoon, two persons trespassed into his office and brutally hacked him, leaving him grievously injured and bleeding on the floor. After passers-by alerted the Murappanaadu police, they rushed him to the Government Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
