Tuesday August 25, 09 : A wealthy elderly couple was shot dead in Chennai on Monday evening. Although alert neighbours caught one of the assailants, he died in police custody. The police blame it on attack by the public. The motive for the double murder is not clear just yet.

This elderly couple was shot dead by two people at their posh home on Chennai's east coast road.
 
Elango, who was in his late 60s, was a retired merchant navy captain. Neighbours say they heard a long argument, which ended in gunfire.

While one of the assailants managed to escape, alert neighbours captured the other. Police are interrogating him.

Chennai Police Commissioner T Rajendran says, "At this point we don't know the clear motive. It may take some time.

It's not clear whether it was a robbery attempt, though there is no sign of forced entry. 
 
The couple's daughter-in-law, who was also shot at, is critical. The grandchildren received minor injuries.
 
Police have seized the car suspected to be of the gunmen.

The police are confident of a quick breakthrough in this case. But fear has gripped residents living in many posh residential areas on the outskirts of the city.