Mob kills van driver after his urine spills on woman in Chennai

CHENNAI: A mob beat a 30-year-old van driver to death after a fight erupted when the driver urinated in a public place on Prakasam Salai in Broadway here in the early hours of Wednesday. While police are yet to identify or arrest the killers, the victim’s family refused to accept the body until the culprits are arrested. Police said Kalaiselvan of Pallavan Salai in Triplicane worked as a load van driver and was unmarried. In the early hours of Wednesday, he and his friend, Balaji, travelled in an auto-rickshaw after being drunk. While sitting in the auto, Kalaiselvan urinated, and the urine spilled on a woman who was passing by. The woman complained about the incident, and Kalaiselvan and Balaji got into an argument with her. Some people in the vicinity came in support of the woman and attacked Kalaiselvan and Balaji, during which the former fell unconscious. Balaji also suffered serious injuries. On information, Kalaiselvan’s brother, Kalaivanan, rushed to the spot and took him to Govt Stanley Hospital in an autorickshaw. Doctors declared Kalaiselvan dead on arrival and sent his body to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination. Balaji is under treatment. Kalaivanan accused police of negligence and said: “The incident took place near the police station, but they did not even call an ambulance. Police should arrest those who attacked and killed my brother immediately.” As Kalaiselvan’s family refused to accept the body until the killers were arrested, police were holding reconciliation talks with the family. The Esplanade police registered a case and were examining surveillance camera footage from the area to identify the attackers, who fled the scene.