Tiruchirappalli, Nov. 9 -- Two 17-year-old boys were brutally hacked to death by unidentified assailants near Samayapuram in Tiruchirappalli district late on Diwali night, officials said.

The deceased have been identified as Rahul (17), a resident of Inam Samayapuram, and Vishal (17), son of Raja, from the same locality. Rahul, who had lost his parents, was staying at a relative's house and working as a daily wage labourer. Vishal was his relative's son, and both were employed as daily wage workers.

According to police, the incident occurred around 11.30 pm when the two boys were walking along the banks of the Pullambadi canal near the Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan University campus, close to the Samayapuram toll plaza.

A group of unidentifi...