Theni (Tamil Nadu), Nov 9 A Special Sub-Inspector of police was fatally attacked by a group of youngsters for rebuking them for bursting firecrackers in the middle of a public road and blocking traffic on Deepavali night in this district, an official said on Monday.
According to the police official, SSI Senthil Kumar, who was returning home after work in civilian clothes, noticed a group of local youth bursting high-decibel firecrackers directly in the middle of a public road at Samadharmapuram. They had blocked vehicular traffic so they could film video reels for social media.
Senthil Kumar (56), who was attached to the Theni DSP office, took note of the public nuisance and traffic disruption, scolded the youth, and advised them to move to the side of the road. However, the group ignored his warning and argued with him.
The SSI then pulled out his mobile phone and began to record a video of their violations to send to the police control room. Enraged by this, the gang surrounded and physically assaulted him, the official said.
During the ensuing scuffle, the SSI tried to apprehend one of them but was hit hard, receiving a severe elbow blow that caused him to lose balance, collapse, and lose consciousness. He was rushed to the Theni Government Medical College Hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Monday, the police official said.
The police noted that the officer had a pre-existing heart condition which likely compounded the fatal effect of the physical assault.
Following the incident, the Theni police made multiple arrests and are investigating further.
(PTI News)
