Youth ends life after being booked for drunk driving; SI suspended after protest by kin

NAMAKKAL: Namakkal district superintendent of police S Rajesh Kannan on Wednesday suspended a sub-inspector in the wake of allegations that the Velagoundampatty police were responsible for the suicide of a youth who was booked for drunk driving. Sub-inspector Mohan was placed under suspension after relatives and neighbours of the deceased staged a protest by placing the youth’s body in front of the police station on the Namakkal-Thiruchengode highway demanding action against the cops “responsible” for his death. The protest affected traffic on the road for two hours.
The deceased, identified as T Manikandan, 22, of Thattarampalayam village, was employed at a private financial firm in Namakkal town. He hanged himself after returning home from work on Tuesday night. While he was returning on his two-wheeler, a team from the Velagoundampatty police station stopped him and registered a case against him for drunk driving.
On Wednesday, Manikandan's family accused the Velagoundampatty police of being responsible for his death. They blocked the Namakkal-Thiruchengode highway with Manikandan's body.
The SP and other officers arrived at the spot and held talks with them. The protesters demanded action against the cops responsible for his death.
When the SP assured them that appropriate action would be taken, the protesters dispersed. Manikandan's body was sent to the Namakkal Government Medical College and Hospital for postmortem.
The SP said a departmental inquiry would be initiated against the sub-inspector. A case was registered, and further investigations were on.