Chennai, Jan. 28 -- Police on Tuesday shot and killed a 30-year-old man in their custody in Perambalur, claiming that the killing was necessitated for self-defence after he attacked police officers.

The deceased was identified as Alaguraja. He was part of a gang which had on January 24 attempted to murder a convict, Vellaikali, while he was being transported under police custody from Dindigul district for a court hearing to the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai, said police.

The gang allegedly trailed the police escort in two vans and hurled country bombs at them. Two police personnel were injured in that incident. Police had formed five special teams to search for the suspects. On Monday night, the special teams arrested seven accused, ...