Cop shows lathi to stop bike; youth dies after fall in Kilpauk

According to sources, the officials from Kilpauk police station jutted out the lathi to stop a two-wheeler, on which three youth were riding. They youth, who was riding the bike lost control and fell down, killing Mukilan, a degree first year student on the spot. The incident took place around 3 am on Thursday. 

Police authorities claim that the policemen only used the lathi to stop the vehicle as another two-wheeler that preceded the ill-fated one, had rode away without stopping when signalled. However, sources said, when the youth on the second bike also tried to escape without stopping, a policemen hit the bike with a lathi and the bike lost control and the youth fell down. Mukilan suffered serious injuries to his head and died on the spot. 

“It is true that the policemen used the lathi to stop the vehicle. But they did not hit the bike. The youth who tried to speed away, hit the speed breaker, lost balance and fell down. We have booked an accident case and investigation is on,” a senior police official told DTNext. 

Senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner, Kilpauk, Joint Commissioner and Additional Commissioner visited the spot and held enquiries. The official also met the parents of the youth at the hospital and pacified them. 

Mukilan’s father was running a saloon at Nammalvarpet, near the family’s house. Mukilan was pursuing his first year undergraduate course at A M Jain College in Meenambakkam. 

Senior officials said the practice of policemen getting on to the middle of the road or using lathi to stop vehicles were issues that had been giving problems to the force. 

“It is an issue and we are now sensitising our policemen regarding this. We have instructed them not to do such things as it can be risky both to them and the motorist,” the senior official added. 

At least two more persons have lost their lives after police tried to stop their vehicle by force in the past year alone.