Traffic SI suspended as taxi driver succumbs to burns

As the matter flared up after his death, city police placed the traffic police sub-inspector under suspension following preliminary departmental inquiry.

Manikandan had set himself on ablaze on busy OMR near SRP tools junction in Taramani on Wednesday afternoon after traffic police personnel allegedly abused and attacked him with an iron rod.

At the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital where Manikandan was admitted, his mother, three sisters and brother refused to accept the body after autopsy, demanding the arrest of the officials responsible his death.

In the meanwhile, scores of taxi drivers gathered at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, seeking justice for call-taxi drivers who, they alleged, were being pushed to the extreme due to police harassment.

Staging a protest, they demanded immediate action against the policemen and also sought Rs 25 lakh compensation for Manikandan’s family.

As tempers rose, a big contingent of personnel was deployed at the hospital premises to handle the protesters.

Eventually, senior officers managed to convince the family to accept his body late in the evening. Officials also indicated on Friday that the case could be handed over for judicial enquiry.

Manikandan’s mother Vasantha had petitioned the city police chief seeking action against traffic sub-inspector Thamairaselvan, and constables Manikandan, Thamizhselvan and Chandrasekar, for allegedly insulting her son and daughters, besides attacking him with iron rod, which triggered the immolation in protest.

After he was fined for not wearing seat belt, Manikandan started taking video of the officers collecting cash as fine, which led to the confrontation.