Greedy grandson kills 84-year-old

CHENNAI: In a shocking incident, an 84-year-old man fell victim to his grandson’s knife attack, reportedly triggered by a property dispute, at Washermenpet on Thursday. Police, who suspect that the attack was premeditated, have launched a search for the killer and two others.Investigating officer T Veerakumar told Express that there was simmering tension between the victim, Velu Chettiar, and his grandson H Prasad (24) over the sale of the family’s ancestral home on Solaiappan Street in Washermenpet. He said Velu Chettiar retained one portion of the house for himself and his wife Vatsala (78) and had rented out the remaining eight to tenants. Besides, there were also two shops in the building. The couple had three sons and four daughters. Velu’s son Jeeva committed suicide and his grand-daughter Priyadarshini, a BBA graduate, also ended her life just before her marriage. The young woman’s father and another of Velu’s sons Hari, an auto driver, was crippled in a road accident. Four years ago, Hari’s wife Sumathi left him and started living with Perumal, a relative of the old man’s wife, in Tiruvottiyur. And now, Hari’s son Prasad, along with Perumal and Sumathi, were wanted in connection with Velu’s murder.The inspector said Prasad had been pestering his grandfather - at the instigation of his mother and Perumal - either to buy him an autorickshaw or sell the ancestral home for his share of the money. Velu had  rejected the demand. On Thursday, Prasad came to meet his grandfather around 10.15 pm. He broached the same topic and this led to an heated altercation. Suddenly, Prasad whisked out a knife from his pocket and slashed his grandfather’s throat, killing him instantly, and fled.The police sent the body to Stanley GH.  The cop said the attack appeared to have been pre-planned and all the three suspects, Prasad, Perumal and Sumathi, were absconding. Prasad’s wife Kalpana (23) had been picked up for questioning, he added.