Police team mistaken for child lifters thrashed

Sources said that a four-member team of Ammapettai police station in Thanjavur led by Inspector Murugesan and assisted by sub-inspector Sasi Kumar, head constable Suseela and constable Manikandan, reached Srirangam around 6.30 pm in search of Devi (42) who was allegedly involved in a murder in a sand quarry in Thanjavur that occurred under Ayyampettai police limits in February this year.

Seven persons from Srirangam, including Devi, were accused in the murder. While the police arrested six persons, Devi had evaded arrest.

One of the accused who was released on bail reportedly informed the police that Devi was hiding in Melur near Srirangam.

But before the police team could zero in on her, she made good her escape.

The Thanjavur team picked up a 10-year-old boy playing in front of Devi’s house for questioning little knowing that he was in fact Devi’s nephew.

Local villagers who saw the four policemen taking the boy in a SUV, mistook them for child lifters and chased the vehicle.

When the SUV reached Mela Vaasal in Srirangam, the public stopped the car, pulled the boy out and thrashed the four policemen.

By that time Srirangam police reached the spot and realising that they were policemen in plainclothes took them to the police station.

Srirangam Assistant Commissioner Ramachandran conducted an inquiry, ordered the release of the boy and let off the Thanjavur team with a warning for not informing them of their arrival to apprehend a murder accused in their locality.