Gang assaults cop after friend injured during midnight patrol

Police sources said Murugan (30), a grade II constable, and head constable Karunakaran attached to the Chetpet police station were engaged in vehicle check when the incident happened. 

At around 12.50 am, when the two policemen were near the Dr Gurusamy bridge in Chetpet, a group of 11 youngsters on five two-wheelers came by the road, heading towards Choolaimedu. When Karunakaran and Murugan attempted to stop the vehicles, the riders mocked the police constables and dodged them. When three youngsters on the two-wheeler sped past them, Murugan, in an effort to stop the vehicle, hit it with a lathi. 

The lathi hit the side mirror, subsequently the driver’s face, which led to the rider, S Ajay Kumar (22), losing balance. The bike registered under the number plate TN 01 BA 3654 went and hit the barricade on the road, which caused Ajay Kumar to suffer injuries. 

Despite being injured, the trio managed to get back on the bike and drove away from the spot. Soon after admitting Ajay to a hospital, the remaining duo gang members returned to the spot in approximately 15 minutes and picked up an argument with the constable. Amidst the quarrel, that assaulted Murugan, the latter suffered injuries on his face, hands and shoulder, police said. The men finally left the spot after Karunakaran, the head constable, pacified them. 

Murugan was taken to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, from where he was sent to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Murugan and Karunakaran told the police that the trio were drunk, and further investigations are being taken based on Murugan’s complaint lodged at Chetpet police station.

According to the police, they have identified the attackers but are browsing the CCTV footages collected from the area to verify the claims of both sides.