Luxury car mows down college student in Anna Nagar, police probe murder angle

CHENNAI: What was initially considered to be a hit-and-run case involving a luxury car turned out to be an alleged case of an intentional act to endanger lives, which led to the death of a 19-year-old college student in Anna Nagar on Monday. Another student was gravely injured. Friends of the deceased student told mediapersons that it was no accident but a planned attack as there has been a fallout between two groups.

The deceased, identified as S Nithin Sai (19) of Ayanavaram, was a first-year English literature student at a college in Mylapore. His friend, S Abishek (20), is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Both Nithin and Abishek visited a food court in Anna Nagar on Monday night where they met some of their school juniors who asked them to stand by them as a show of strength.

However, as things started escalating, Abishek and Nithin left the scene on their scooter, with Nithin riding pillion.

Around 11.30 pm, as they were riding along School Road in Thirumangalam, a rashly driven luxury car, purportedly driven by one of the youths from the opposite group, hit their scooter, and in the impact, both boys were thrown off the bike.

Neither of them was wearing helmets; Nithin suffered head injuries, which killed him on the spot. Passersby rushed to their aid and moved them to the hospital.

Bereaved family members of Nithin told mediapersons that they learnt from his friends that the luxury car was driven by a student related to a political functionary.

Meanwhile, friends and family members gathered outside Thirumangalam police station on Tuesday demanding the arrest of the suspects. They dispersed only after senior police officers promised swift action.

A search is underway to identify the occupants of the car at the time of the incident.