A person accused in the murder of a 70-year-old woman in Omalur on May 20 was shot in the leg by police after he attacked two officers with a machete while attempting to escape from his hideout at the foothills of Sankari Fort in the early hours of Saturday (May 24, 2025).

The accused, identified as Naresh Kumar (26), a resident of Kattikaranoor village in Omalur block, has over 20 robbery cases registered against him at various police stations across the district.

According to police, the victim, Sarasu alias Saraswathi, a resident of Chinnerikadu in Omalur, was attacked while she had taken her cattle out for grazing. Her body was later found by locals along the roadside, bearing injuries to her ear and nose. Investigations revealed that she had been murdered and a sovereign of gold jewellery had been stolen. A case was registered by the Deevattipatti police.

Special teams were formed to apprehend the accused. During the investigation, it was found that Naresh Kumar was involved in the crime, and his hideout was traced to the foothills of the fort. When a special police team attempted to arrest him, he attacked Sub-Inspector Vijayaraghavan and Constable Selvakumar with a machete, injuring both. In response, police fired a service pistol and shot Naresh Kumar in the leg, causing him to collapse.

The accused and the two policemen were admitted to the Government Hospital in Sankari.

Police said the accused had previously targeted elderly women, snatching their jewellery in areas including Sankari and Magudanchavadi in the district.