Man tries to kidnap child at Marina beach, thrashed

A boy raised alarm on seeing the man run with the child

The accused (left) is from Dharmapuri district. The child’s father is also in the picture.

A 28-year-old man was thrashed by the public on the Marina Beach near Vivekananda Illam following a suspicion that he had kidnapped a female child.

The police said the man, who was under the influence of alcohol, came to the huts of the narikuravars near the Triplicane police station. Some children were playing there while their parents had gone to buy food.

Given a chase

The accused allegedly took a female child aged one-and-half years and fled. On seeing that, a seven-year-old boy raised an alarm.

Alerted by his cries, the child’s parents and others gave the accused a chase. He was found with the child near Mattankuppam.

By the time the parents neared him, members of the public had caught hold of him and thrashed him.

Police personnel on duty arrested the accused.

He was brought to the Marina police station and interrogated. Police sources said the accused has been identified as Palanivel, 28, of Dharmapuri district.