By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
A railway passenger from Coimbatore was bludgeoned to death in an unprovoked attack by a youth at the Tirunelveli Junction railway station on Tuesday night.
The victim was identified as S. Thangappan, 72, of Periyanayakkan Palayam in Coimbatore. Two others were injured as the assailant, R. Suraj, 25, of Bihar, attacked passengers waiting on platforms four and five with a wooden log. The injured are undergoing treatment at the Tirunelveli Medical College and Hospital.
According to the Government Railway Police, the assailant first tried to attack K. Pandithurai, 29, of Vanchi Maniyachchi, around 9.15 p.m. Fearing for his life, Mr. Pandithurai jumped into an empty carriage of a stationary train and locked himself in. The assailant then attacked R. Prasad, 49, of Kannur district in Kerala, and Mr. Thangappan. He also snatched Mr. Thangappan’s mobile phone and fled the spot.
On being alerted, the railway police rushed to the spot and admitted the injured to the hospital. However, Mr. Thangappan died of his injuries in the early hours of Wednesday.
The police arrested Suraj near the Thachanallur railway flyover on Tuesday.
A source from the railway police confirmed that the accused was not under the influence of alcohol. However, to ascertain whether he had consumed any other illegal substance, his samples had been taken for an analysis, the source added.
Further investigation into the motive for the attack is under way.
