Attacked by auto driver, ex-AIADMK councillor passes away in hospital

Coimbatore: An ex-AIADMK councillor, who was assaulted by an autorickshaw driver over a money dispute on July 16, died without responding to treatment at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on Saturday.

An investigation officer said 57-year-old Srinivasan, of Ondipudur, was assaulted by 32-year-old auto driver S Sampathkumar, of Bharathipuram near Sulur, on the night of July 16, after the former told him that the cocks he had given him for selling had died and refused to pay him. “Sampathkumar had given four cocks to Srinivasan, the ex-AIADMK councillor, on July 16 morning for sales. When Sampathkumar demanded money for the cocks the same night, Srinivasan said the cocks had died at his house and he had thrown the carcasses away,” the officer said.

Sampathkumar did not believe Srinvasan and the two entered into an altercation. “In a fit of rage, Sampathkumar hit Srinivasan on his head with a cooker lid and escaped from the place,” the officer said. Srinivasan was taken to CMCH with severe head injuries.

After Srinivasan died on Saturday, police have alerted the case to murder. Further investigation is on.TNN