A Sub-Inspector of Police Panneerselvam was killed on the spot and five others were injured when a security guard at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of State Bank of India at Papanasam town near here opened fire from his rifle on Tuesday.
The injured persons, Rajarajeswaran, Srinivasan, Somnath, Bharathidasan and Swaminathan, were admitted to a private hospital at Thanjavur.
According to A. Amalraj, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Thanjavur range (in-charge), a scuffle took place between S. Rajendran of Mannargudi, the security guard, and some people who had come to take money from the ATM even as money was being loaded into the machine. The security guard suddenly opened fire and injured Bharathidasan who had come to the ATM to draw money. On seeing this, two other persons, Srinivasan and Swaminathan, came to the rescue of Bharathidasan and were shot at. Later, Rajendran opened fire at random injuring Somnath and Rajarajeswaran.
A police team, led by Suresh, Inspector of police, Papanasam, and Pannerselvam, Sub-Inspector, rushed to the ATM. Rajendran, who had taken shelter inside the ATM, was overpowered by the policemen. Even as he was being taken to the police station, a group of angry people tried to attack the security guard, who attempted to snatch his rifle from Mr. Panneerselvam. In the ensuing struggle, Rajendran is said to have pulled the trigger. A bullet hit Pannerselvam in his chest and he died on the spot. Rajendran was whisked away to an undisclosed destination by the police.
Karan Singha, Inspector General of police, Central Zone, Mr. Amalraj, A. K. Senthilvelan, Superintendent of Police, rushed to the spot.
The body of Panneerselvam was brought to Thanjavur Medical College hospital for post-mortem. S. S. Palani Manickam, Union Minister of State for Finance, M.S. Shanmugham, Collector, paid their homage to the deceased. Tension prevailed in Papanasam following the incident and traders downed shutters. People gathered in large numbers before the police station, demanding that the security guard be handed over to them.
