Krishnagiri soldier death: All 9 accused remanded in custody, says SP

CHENNAI: All nine accused have been remanded in police custody in a case involving the death of a Army soldier, who was severely thrashed by a DMK functionary and his accomplices in Krishnagiri district on Wednesday.

"All nine accused remanded to police custody. It's a case of assault, there's no political angle to it. Those spreading rumours will be prosecuted. Police will provide all possible help to the victim's family," said SP Krishnagiri Saroj Kr Thakur.

29-year-old Lance Naik M Prabhu was ambushed by Chinnaswamy, DMK councillor, and others and was brutally beaten up, police said.

He was admitted to hospital with grievous injuries and succumbed to injuries.

On February 8, an altercation ensued between Prabhakaran and his brother Prabhu with the DMK functionary Chinnaswamy at Velampatti in Pochampally over washing clothes near the town panchayat's water tank.

Later, in the evening, Prabhakaran and his brother were attacked allegedly by Chinnaswamy and his men. Prabhu was admitted to a private hospital in Hosur.

The Nagarasampatty police altered the case from IPC Section 307 - attempt to murder to Section 302 - murder.

"Chinnaswamy, a DMK councillor in Pochampally area, beat up an army soldier Prabhu to death @CMOTamilnadu must initiate appropriate action. As Akhil Bharatiya Poorva Sainik Seva Parishad senior vice president, I strongly condemn this act," Lt Col N Thiagarajan tweeted.

BJP State chief K Annamalai expressed shock and anger over the incident and said in a tweet "soldiers are not safe in their hometown due to DMK anarchy. The DMK and its allied parties have turned to the extent of threatening their families, attacking and even killing soldiers who are protecting the country at the border, risking their lives."

"Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister is keeping the police in hands... I request on behalf of the BJP Tamil Nadu that strict action be taken against the killers immediately and that such anti-social acts should be prevented from happening," he further said in a tweet.

online desk (with inputs from PTI)