Facebook users and Twitterati on Sunday took the row on the death of NRI software engineer K. Ragupathy (32) to social media with the question #WhoKilledRagu?, widely blaming the State Government, political parties and various authorities for the fatal accident that occurred at CMC junction on Avinashi Road in the early hours of Saturday.
A graffiti, Who Killed Ragu?, was also drawn at the accident spot on Saturday night, photo of which was widely circulated through social media and WhatsApp. The writing was found covered up using white paint later on Sunday.
Taking up the issue, DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Sunday tweeted “Under the pretext of #MGRcentenary, the AIADMK govt. continues to blatantly violate the High Court's order on obstructive & dangerous hoardings - now resulting in the death of Raghu, a promising young engineer in Coimbatore. I condemn this lawless govt. in the strongest terms”.
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Majority of the posts with the hashtag accused the ruling party and authorities of flaunting norms in erecting a temporary arch across the highway for MGR centenary celebrations, the alleged reason for the accident.
“Lost my brother @flytoragu due to @AIADMKOfficial government's #MGR100 celebrations. The #hordings kept blocking the #Avinashiroad in #Coimbatore took my brother's life. At least wake up now. Let my brother' life be the last one to go,” tweeted Mohan Kumar @iamMohK. WhatsApp groups also had discussions on the accident.
K. Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Cause, on Sunday wrote to Chief Secretary seeking a ban on the erection of arches, banners and cut outs on the main roads and platforms.
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The police claimed that the accident was caused by a lorry that violated rule of one way and came from the opposite direction and not because the youth’s two-wheeler hit the arch erected on the road.
The police arrested the driver of the lorry M. Mohan (31) of Paramakkudi late on Saturday.
According to the police, the lorry belonged to private firm UPL and was being operated on contract basis for Coimbatore Integrated Waste Management Company Private Limited. Mohan, arrested under Sections 279, 304 (A) of the IPC and 134 (a) (b) of Motor Vehicle Rules read with 187 of Motor Vehicle Act, was remanded in judicial custody on Sunday, said the police.
Ready to face legal battle
Meanwhile, DMK MLA Karthik said he is ready to face legal battle if AIADMK were to file a case.
The Minister for Municipal Administration S.P. Velumani had accused Karthik of diverting attention from real issue in accident case.
If police were to inquire public that would clearly say that the arch across the road was the cause of Raghu’s death and social media posts only confirmed this, Karthik said.