Auto driver fights for pup, loses life

Sources said the deceased Vijay, resident of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Perambur, was part of the autorickshaw stand near Perambur railway station. Vijay is said to have had the habit of feeding the strays loitering in and around the railway station out of his love for dogs. 

The suspect identified as Vellaiyappan, (32), who lives under Perambur flyover, had been raising strays with him, and had ‘issues’ with Vijay over feeding the strays.

On Wednesday, Vijay picked up one of the healthy pups recently delivered by a stray dog, and took it home on Wednesday evening, and brought it back to its mother after feeding it. 

On seeing Vijay playing with the pup, Vellaiyappan picked up a quarrel with Vijay, and snatched the pup from Vijay’s custody stating that it was his pup. Unrelenting Vijay kept up with Vellaiyappan, and the duo began hurling a volley of abuses between each other.

This culminated with Vellaiyappan grabbing an iron rod and ramming it on Vijay’s head, at around 7.30 pm. As Vijay collapsed, his co-workers from the autorickshaw stand rushed to his rescue, while Vellaiyappan took to his heels. 

Vijay was admitted to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), where he succumbed on the injuries at around 4.15 am. 

ICF Police, which registered a case under charges of grievous hurt altered it into a murder, and picked up Vellaiyappan for interrogation. 

Vellaiyappan is also from Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Perambur. He was surviving by scavenging scrap from the locality. Having lost his family ties, a homeless Vellaiyappan took abode under the flyover, and made it his shelter.

“Vijay saw one of the puppies attractive. He wanted to take it home and to raise it as his own. Upon reaching home, Vijay realised that he would adopt the pup later and decided to take it back to its mother to give it more time to spend with its siblings too rather than raising it in isolation. Usually, the stray dogs post-delivery become ferocious, and would discourage any strangers getting near its pups. The fact that it had allowed Vijay to pick up the pup must have irked Vellaiyappan,” said a senior police official privy to the investigation.