Chennai: A 35-year-old social activist was hacked to death by a group of men following a quarrel over bursting crackers near his house in Thiruvottiyur at 9.40pm on Monday. Police arrested three suspects on Tuesday and launched a search for others involved in the murder.Police identified the victim as Pavithran, a resident of Vanniyar Street. He suffered multiple cut injuries, including deep wounds to his face, and died at the spot. Following the incident, Thiruvottiyur police arrested Surya, 27, Kishore, 29, and Hari alias Anandan, 27, all residents of the same street. Their friend Madhan sustained injuries to his hands while trying to stop the attack. He was admitted to Govt Stanley Hospital.According to police, Pavithran regularly fed stray dogs in and around Thiruvottiyur, including at night. On Monday, he objected to a group of men bursting crackers on the street. During the ensuing argument, Pavithran struck one of them, prompting the group to attack him with a knife and a sickle, police said.His mother suspected an earlier dispute over feeding stray dogs was behind the murder. She said the family had vacated their rented house after disagreements with the landlord. Police, however, ruled out that connection and cited the cracker dispute as the motive.
