Copyright thehindu
Following the death of a man, Alagupandi, who was questioned by Kariyapatti police in connection with a motorbike theft, over 100 persons staged a road blockade in Kariyapatti demanding action against a police informer for allegedly demanding ₹20,000 from him for not registering a theft case against him, on Sunday. Windscreen of a TNSTC bus was smashed in a stone pelting incident during the protest held at Kariyapatti junction. Earlier, his relatives and villagers of Achampatti laid a siege to Kariyapatti police station. According to police, Alagupandi was questioned by the police in October and was later let off. However, Arjunan had insisted that Alagupandi should pay ₹20,000 to prevent the police from booking him in the theft case. This led to Alagupandi taking extreme step on Friday. He died at the Virudhunagar Government Medical College hospital. The family members demanded that that Arjunan should be arrested for instigating Alagupandi to end his life by way of threatening him with police action. Even as the police managed to pacify the agitators who squatted in front of the police station, a section of the protestors blocked road at the junction and pelted stones on the bus, the police said. Police picketing have been posted in different places in Kariyapatti as the agitators have warned that they would not accept the body if the police failed to arrest Arjunan. (Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.) and Speak2Us helpline 9375493754)
