New Delhi: A dispute over washing clothes near a water tank in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, resulted in the death of a 33-year-old Army soldier who had been beaten to death by a DMK councillor and others, reported news agency ANI. Chinnasamy, a DMK member, and the soldier identified as Prabhu got into a heated argument on February 8 in the Pochampalli area over washing clothes near a tank. That same evening, the councillor Chinnasamy and nine other men allegedly attacked Prabhu and his brother Prabhakaran.
Meanwhile, AIADMK slammed DMK for the death of the soldier.
"Murder of the army man shows that whenever DMK is in power law and order are severely compromised. This has gone to the extent of killing an army officer. Police being only used to avenge vendetta from AIADMK and other opponents," said AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan quoted by ANI.
The police arrested six men in response to Prabhakaran's complaint, including Chinnasamy's son Rajapandi. Chinnasamy, who has been on the run since the day of the attack, is being arrested by the police, who have turned the case into a murder investigation.
"Chinnasamy, along with nine men, had allegedly attacked Prabhakaran and his brother Prabhu on the same evening. Based on Prabhu’s complaint, Krishnagiri police have arrested six men including Chinnasamy’s son Rajapandi," said Krishnagiri police.
On Tuesday, Prabhu, who sustained severe wounds during the attack, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital.
The Nagarasampatty police changed the case from attempt to murder under IPC section 307 to murder under IPC section 302.
"Chinnaswamy, a DMK councillor in Pochampally area, beat up an army soldier Prabhu to death @CMOTamilnadu must initiate appropriate action. As Akhil Bharatiya Poorva Sainik Seva Parishad senior vice president, I strongly condemn this act," Lt. Col. N Thiagarajan tweeted.
In a tweet, BJP State chief K Annamalai expressed shock and anger over the incident and said, "soldiers are not safe in their hometown due to DMK anarchy. The DMK and its allied parties have turned to the extent of threatening their families, attacking and even killing soldiers who are protecting the country at the border, risking their lives." "Tamil Nadu's chief minister is keeping the police in hands... I request on behalf of the BJP Tamil Nadu that strict action be taken against the killers immediately and that such anti-social acts should be prevented from happening," he further said in a tweet.