After persuasion, relatives cremate body of slain auto driver

Following sustained negotiations, relatives of the murdered auto driver accepted the body on Friday evening and cremated it with police protection.

Earlier in the day, the relatives of the deceased and the villagers of Theneerkulam and Thatchanallur, after refusing to accept the body, gathered in a temple at Thatchanallur and discussed the issue.

They demanded that the government should give Rs. 10 lakh as compensation to the family of the deceased, government job to one of the family members and unconditional release of all 20 persons arrested in connection with the road roko and attack on the house of the accused.

When the stalemate continued, the police sought the help of their community leaders and started talks with them with the help of a few AIADMK office-bearers including Sudha K. Paramasivan and chairman of Thatchanallur zone of Tirunelveli Corporation, S. Madhavan, who pacified them.

Subsequently, they accepted the body and cremated it in the evening.