Chennai: Coming under fire for allegedly
not acting in time to save a bleeding Sub-Inspector attacked
by a gang, Tamil Nadu minister M R K Pannerselvam on Friday
refuted as "totally wrong" the charge that he and another
minister were insensitive towards the plight of the policeman
who died.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi ordered relief of Rs five lakh solatium from the government and Rs two lakh from the Chief Minister`s Public Relief Fund to the family of sub-inspector Vetrivel.
In a case of shocking indifference, sub-inspector
Vetrivel who was brutally attacked by a gang in Tirunelveli
District, bled to death as his cry for help went in vain even
after Paneerselvam and youth and sports development minister TPM Mohideen Khan with their convoy stopped by and saw his
plight.
Refuting AIADMK MLA Sekarbabu`s charge in the assembly
that the two ministers did not take any steps to hospitalise
Vetrivel, who was battling for life on the road, Pannerselvam
said the allegation was totally wrong.
He said on seeing the policeman`s plight, he and Khan
immediately called for an ambulance, which had to come from
Tenkasi. "As there could be delay, we arranged for a police
vehicle to move him to hospital," he said.
Forty-four-year-old Vetrivel, a member of the Special
Task Force that gunned down forest brigand Veerappan in 2004,
lay in a pool of blood with his leg severed and begged for
help after the attack by the gang at Alwarkuruchi shortly
before the ministerial convoy was to pass by.
The two ministers came under fire after TV footage
showed the profusely-bleeding sub-inspector crying for help in
their presence and with eyewitnesses alleging that he did not
get assistance in time from them and accompanying officials.
The Sub-Inspector was badly injured after the
assailants hurled country bombs at him and attacked him with
sickles in a case of mistaken identity.
CM announces solatium
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Saturday ordered relief of Rs five lakh solatium from the government and Rs two lakh from the Chief Minister`s Public Relief Fund to the family of sub-inspector Vetrivel, who was killed in an attack by a gang two days back in
Tirunelveli.
An official release said Karunanidhi condoled the death of Vetrivel and ordered government employment to a elilgible member of the family.
PTI
