Constable questions gang drinking in school, killed

Police officers, after visiting the scene of crime, said that the constable was assaulted and probably stoned to death.

The deceased was identified as P Mohan Raj, a grade I constable hailing from Poigainallur village in Vellore. He is survived by his wife and three children aged 16, 14 and 8. Mohan Raj was transferred to Sungavachatram just a week back after completing five years in the Vandalur Otteri police station.

Around 8 pm on Sunday, after finishing duty, Mohan Raj was returning to his house when the incident happened. Police believe that when he was travelling on the Sungavachatram-Tiruvallur road, Mohan Raj saw a group of men consuming alcohol inside the private school in Tirumangalam Kandigai village. The school had no compound wall. Sunday was the third day of his duty in the new police station.

Mohan Raj stopped his two-wheeler and approached the group and questioned them. He may have asked them to stop drinking in public places which could have made them angry. Following this, the gang attacked him with stones, beer bottles and knives. After confirming that Mohan Raj was dead, the attackers fled the spot.

Only in the morning, the villagers found the body and informed the Sungavachatram police station. A team of police personnel rushed to the spot and sent the body to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital for autopsy.

Later, Deputy Inspector General of Police PC Thenmozhi and Superintendent of Police Santosh Hadimani visited the spot and held inquiries. Five special teams headed by deputy superintendents of police have been formed to nab the culprits.