CHENNAI: In yet another instance of violence in public, a 19-year-old youth was attacked with sharp weapons by goons in full public view at Ashok Pillar, Vyasarpadi on Monday. This led to tension among residents who staged a protest urging police to control anti-social elements in the area.
On Monday evening, around 9.30pm, Ajith Kumar, of C Kalyanapuram Street, Vyasarpadi was walking home when two men intercepted him and attacked him with sickles. “When he tried to escape, the men chased him and attacked him in full public view. Scared of the armed gang, nobody went forward to help him,” police added.
The two assailants fled after which Ajith Kumar was taken to Stanley Medical Hospital.
Following this, the residents of various slum tenements in Vyasarpadi blocked the road the same night. They said they were living in an unsafe area. They urged the police to increase their patrolling there.
“There is a police booth but it is always locked. Even to walk out in the evening we are scared whether we will be attacked by the rowdies in the area. Since we have been living here for more than 30 years we cannot afford to shift to another locality,” said one of the protestors.
D Hari (50), a puncture shop owner, was attacked by an armed gang on Saturday. Residents said that on May 25, a similar gang on four motorbikes attacked 12 random people at Kalyanapuram, Sathyamoorthy Nagar. “They even chopped two dogs to pieces before they left,” said a resident.
Police claimed Ajith had robbery cases pending against him at Vyasarpadi police station. “However Ajith escaped from the hospital fearing that police would arrest him too,” said police. A case has been registered at Vyasarpadi police station and further probe is on.