Village tense after SI ‘assaults’ tipplers
Tension prevailed at Choladharam village near here after a sub-inspector reportedly hit two persons with a beer bottle following an argument after he questioned them for drinking near a park. Police said both persons have been hospitalised.
Following the incident agitated residents of the village picketed the police station and damaged a police vehicle, as they blocked Chennai-Kumbakonam road on Saturday midnight.
Sub-inspector of Choladharam police station, Muthukumar, was on night patrol on Saturday when he spotted the duo, Sankar(32) of Pudaiyur colony and Sathyamurthy(32) of Govindhanallur colony, drinking near a park here. Muthukumar warned them, following which quarrel ensued between the SI and the two persons. After a wordy duel the SI got angry and reportedly assaulted them with beer bottle and lathi. As the news spread, people of both Pudaiyur colony and Govindhanallur colony thronged the police station and attacked a police vehicle. They also held road-roko.Top police officials including Sethiathope DSP Ramamurthy rushed to the spot and persuaded the agitated people to disperse after assuring them that appropriate action would be taken against the SI. Consequently, SI Muthukumar was shifted to the Armed Reserve Police. Due to the protest, traffic movement was hit for around two hours on the road.
Injured persons have been receiving treatment in medical college hospital, at Annamalai Nagar. Villupuram range DIG, Murugan and Cuddalore SP, Radhika visited the village.
Meanwhile, Chidambaram MLA K Balakrishnan visited the injured persons at the hospital on Sunday.