SALEM: An 45-yar-old man died on Wednesday, a day after he was thrashed with a lathi by a special sub-inspector (SSI) of police at Ethapur in Salem district of Tamil Nadu.
A murder case was registered against SSI R Periasamy, and he was arrested.
The deceased has been identified as Vellaiyan alias Murugesan, 45, who was a farmer in Chandrapillai Valasu village near Ethapur.
On Tuesday, Murugesan and his fellow villagers Shankar and Sivan Babu went to Kallakurichi district to consume alcohol as liquor shops were closed in Salem district due to the continuing strict lockdown.
After consuming alcohol, they were returning to their village on a two-wheeler.
When they neared Ethapur, a police team intercepted them and inquired with them.
Police seized a few bottles of liquor from the trio.
“SSI Periasamy got angry when Murugesan used some filthy words against the policemen,” said an officer at Ethapur police station.
Periasamy thrashed Murugesan with his lathi.
Murugesan swooned and fell on the road.
He suffered severe head injuries.
Shankar and Sivan Babu called the 108 ambulance service.
Murugesan was rushed to Thumbal primary health center from where he was taken him to the Attur Government Hospital.
Doctors in Attur hospital referred him to Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital.
” Murugesan succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning without responding to treatment,” the police officer added.
When a video of the incident recorded by Sivan Babu went viral on social media, Salem range DIG C Mageshwari and superintendent of police M Sree Abhinav initiated an inquiry with the SSI and other cops.
The SP placed the SSI under suspension.
As ordered by the SP, a case was registered and Periasamy was arrested.