In a disturbing incident that highlights the increasing dangers faced by law enforcement officers in Tamil Nadu, seven individuals were arrested for assaulting a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) during a protest in Aruppukottai. The incident occurred as the police attempted to restrain a group of protesters demanding the arrest of suspects in a murder case.
The unrest began after K Kalikumar, a 28-year-old resident of Ramanathapuram, was murdered near Kethanayakkanpatti due to a previous enmity. The Tiruchuli police station registered a case, leading to the arrest of four individuals: P Lakshmanan (24) of Sempenerunji, M Arunkumar (22) of Tiruchuli, and K Kaleeswaran (22) and S Balamurugan (25) of Madurai.
However, Kalikumar’s relatives and supporters were dissatisfied with the police’s efforts, as two more suspects—K Ayyavu alias Velmurugan (44) and Veerasooran (23)—were still at large. In response, they staged a roadblock protest in front of the Aruppukottai Government Hospital, demanding the immediate arrest of the remaining accused.
Senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police D Kannan, rushed to the scene and managed to persuade the protesters to disperse. Despite this, a faction of the protesters attempted to march towards Pandalgudi junction to stage another demonstration. At this point, Deputy Superintendent of Police M Gayathri intervened to prevent further escalation.
During the confrontation, one of the protesters became violent, resulting in a scuffle. A video of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media and television channels, shows one of the agitators forcefully pushing DSP Gayathri and pulling her hair. In response, her team members swiftly formed a protective barrier around her and retaliated against the aggressors.
Following the assault, police arrested Balamurugan (30) of Nellikulam, who was identified as the individual who attacked the DSP. An investigation is ongoing, and six other individuals involved in the incident are currently being questioned.
Despite the arrests, the protesters resumed their demonstration, briefly squatting on the road before dispersing again after further discussions with the police. Authorities have booked seven individuals under various charges, including unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restraint, assault, and criminal intimidation. They have also been charged under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. Police are continuing their search for one more suspect who remains at large.
The body of Kalikumar was handed over to his relatives after the post-mortem examination, and his final rites were performed later in the day.
பெண் டி.எஸ்.பி.யின் தலைமுடியை பிடித்து அட்டூழியம்… போராட்டத்தில் களேபரம்!#Virudhunagar #Protest #DSP #WomenPolice #TNPolice #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/OIyW4SQin5
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) September 3, 2024
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has condemned the recent assault on Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) M. Gayathri during a protest in Aruppukottai, expressing shock and concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. The incident, which saw the DSP being physically attacked by protesters, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the safety of law enforcement officers in the state.
விருதுநகர் மாவட்டம் அருப்புக்கோட்டையில் போராட்டத்தின் போது கலவரம் ஏற்படாமல் தடுக்க முற்பட்ட பெண் துணை கண்காணிப்பாளர் காயத்ரி அவர்களை போராட்டக்காரர்கள் தலை முடியை இழுத்து தாக்க முயன்றதாக செய்திகளில் வரும் காட்சிகள் அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கின்றன.
விடியா திமுக ஆட்சியில் சட்டத்தின் மீது…
— Edappadi K Palaniswami-SayYEStoWomenSafety&AIADMK (@EPSTamilNadu) September 3, 2024
On Wednesday, seven individuals were arrested after a group of protesters manhandled DSP Gayathri while she was attempting to disperse a crowd staging a roadblock in front of the Aruppukottai Government Hospital. The protesters were demanding the arrest of additional suspects in the murder case of K. Kalikumar, a 28-year-old man from Ramanathapuram, who was killed due to previous enmity.
The arrested individuals have been charged under various sections, including unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restraint, assault, and criminal intimidation. They have also been booked under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. Police are still searching for one more suspect involved in the incident. After the post-mortem, Kalikumar’s body was handed over to his relatives for the final rites.
Palaniswami, taking to social media, expressed his dismay over the incident. “I am shocked to see the attack on DSP Gayathri. The law and order situation in the state is in shambles under the Vidya DMK regime, where even police officers are not safe. This reflects the fearless attitude of criminals who believe they can act with impunity,” he said. Palaniswami urged Chief Minister MK Stalin to take swift action against those responsible and to restore safety for all, including law enforcement officers.
The attack on the DSP is just one in a series of alarming incidents that have plagued Tamil Nadu in recent months. The state has witnessed a rise in crimes, including murder, drug seizures, sexual assaults, land grabbing, and other violent acts.
In October last year, three men entered the Virugambakkam police station and allegedly threatened a woman police constable, demanding she withdraw her molestation complaint against two DMK workers. The incident occurred while DMK MPs Kanimozhi and Tamizhachi Thangapandian were addressing a public meeting. The men were arrested following public protests, which highlighted concerns that even police officers are not safe in the state.
திருச்சியில் பள்ளி குழந்தைகளை பாலியல் சிண்டல் செய்த தலைமை ஆசிரியை மகன் கேள்வி கேட்ட செய்தியாளரை அடிக்க பாய்ந்த நபர் இந்த போக்சோ குற்றவாளி
காவல் நிலையத்தில் கழிவறையில் வழுக்கி விடுவார் என பெருவாரியான மக்கள் எதிர்பார்க்கின்றனர்..pic.twitter.com/Cd07xa6HQB
— கழுகுப்பார்வை 🦅🇮🇳 (@TheEagle3_0) September 3, 2024
Another shocking incident occurred on September 3, when Dr. Samson Daniel, a government doctor from Trichy, was arrested for sexually abusing minor girls aged between five and ten years at a hostel of a government-aided school. Dr. Daniel, who worked at a Primary Health Centre in Thirumayankudi, allegedly visited the school where his mother is the headmistress and committed the crimes. The police arrested him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after one of the parents reported the abuse.
