TIRUNELVELI
An assault on three policemen allegedly by supporters of a ruling party functionary in Sankarankovil has demoralised the law enforcers conducting vehicle checks.
The AIADMK functionary’s husband, who allegedly coordinated the assault, is yet to be booked while five others have been named in the first information report registered by the police.
A police patrol team, led by Sub-Inspector of Sankarankovil Town police station Sankaranarayanan, which was checking vehicles on Sankarankovil–Puliyangudi highway on Sunday evening, intercepted two bike riders, who were reportedly under the influence of alcohol.
Even as the duo were being taken to Sankarankovil Government Hospital for medical examintaion, they – Thangadurai and Murugan, both from Sankarankovil – started threatening the police, saying that they were working in a bar belonging to the ruling party functionary.
However, policemen Senthil Kumar, Mahesh and Mahendran took them to the hospital for the medical examination.
Soon after the duo were taken to the hospital, a gang that came in a vehicle assaulted the policemen, tore off their uniform and fled the spot along with the duo in the vehicle even as the ruling party functionary’s husband was allegedly monitoring the attack from the vehicle, police sources said.
The police registered an FIR charging Muthusala, M. Murugan, A. Thangadurai, M. Sankar and Chelladurai under Sections 294(b), 147, 148, 332, 341, 353 and 506 (II) of the Indian Penal Code. However, none has been arrested so far. Mr. Senthilkumar and Mr. Mahesh, who sustained injuries in the attack, are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Condemning the attack, DMK’s Tirunelveli West district secretary Sivapadmanathan said in a statement that the two inebriated persons nabbed by the police had said that they were working in the bar owned by an influential person of the ruling party.
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Superintendent of Police P. Ve. Arunshakthikumar on Monday assured that due action would be taken against the attackers.
