Health Minister M.R. K. Paneerselvam on Saturday denied the criticism that there was delay in rendering medical assistance to Sub-Inspector of Police R. Vetrivel who was attacked by an armed gang near Alwarkurichi in Tirunelveli on Thursday.
Reacting to the observations of P.K. Sekar Babu (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address to the Assembly, the Health Minister said he, Environment Minister T.P.M. Moideen Khan and District Collector were there at the spot of the attack. Immediately, the services of an ambulance vehicle were requisitioned. But, when they came to know that the vehicle had to come from Tenkasi, the SI was sent to hospital in a police vehicle that carried a doctor too.
Later, Mr. Moideen Khan told reporters that all efforts were made to provide all assistance promptly to the SI on a humanitarian basis. Terming the allegations as baseless, he said that there were two teams of police personnel at the spot. Both chased the gang members and he could hear noise created by the throwing of bombs and opening of fire.