An ordinary-looking scuffle between two groups over a dispute in transporting of earth near Kalligudi has led to murder of a 35-year-old man R. Kalanithi on Tuesday night.However, the shocking revealation is that a jail warden and a young army personnel were among the perpetrators of crime.Madurai district police have arrested M. Mariselvam, the jail warden and B. Mayakannan (21), the military man.The police said that the former DMK functionary, Kalanithi, had been involved in mining of soil in the region. A former president of Sennampatti panchayat, Mahalingam, had been reportedly collecting mamool from him.However, in recent times, Kalanithi had stopped giving him the cut which enraged Mahalingam and his associates.On April 27, Mahalingam, Prakash Kannnan (24) and others had intercepted Kalanithi’s soil-laden vehicle and punctured its tyres. This led to a scuffle following which the police had registered cases on both parties and arrested two persons. Others had managed to get anticipatary bail. The accused were complying with bail conditions, the poice said.In this backdrop, when Kalanithi was riding a motorbike with his cousin, Ajith kumar and friend Hariharan were proceeding on Kalligudi-Kurayur road when their bike was knocked down by a speeding SUV.Even as the bike riders fell down, an armed gang chased them and started to inflict cut injuries. While the other two fled the scene, the gangsters attacked Kalanithi on his face and neck.Kalanithi was rushed to the Virudhunagar Government Medical College in vain as he was declared brought dead.Police investigation turned towards Mahalingam and his associates.Six persons were arrested in this connection and the police are still on the lookout for few others. The police said that after the April scuffle, both sides had feared another bout of attack from the other side and Mahalingam group had pre-empted it.The accused had taken an SUV on hire to execute the murder.The accused have been booked for murder, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, rioting and assault. Published - July 03, 2026 09:35 pm IST