Doc denied dignity in death, 21 held in city

This is second such incident which happened in the city. Around 11 pm on Sunday, the Corporation and health department officials reached the government crematorium in T P Chatram, to bury the body of the managing director of a private hospital, who lost the battle to COVID-19 almost after two weeks. Residents living near the burial ground, on seeing the ambulance, gathered and opposed to bury the body. 

As around 50 people staged a road roko, officials decided to bury the body in Velangadu crematorium that falls under the jurisdiction of Anna Nagar police station. With the help of the police, as the crew reached the other ground, residents of housing board in Annai Sathya Nagar, who came to know about the victim being brought to their locality, gathered in large numbers and did not allow the ambulance. Suddenly, the group went berserk and started hurling stones on the ambulance and beating the officials who accompanied the body. Assistant Executive Engineer Kalaiyarasan, Executive Engineer Senthil Kumar and the ambulance crew - Anand and Damodaran - suffered injuries in the assault.

However, the body was taken to a private hospital and later to the burial ground with the help of police personnel and the funeral was conducted as per the WHO guidelines. Police launched a hunt on the miscreants and secured 21 of them including a woman. All of them will remain in custody till April 30. Further investigation is on. An official speaking to DT Next said that the suspects would be produced before the magistrate.