A Sub Inspector from the Chennai Traffic Police was suspended from his duty. This move was made after a cab driver attempted suicide after being beaten up by the Inspector for not wearing a seatbelt.
Yesterday, cab driver Manikandan set himself on fire on the IT corridor in Chennai. The man who is from Sankarankovil is battling for his life at a hospital in the city. The doctors informed that Manikandan suffered 59 percent of burn injuries.
Once Manikandan paid the fine to the Police for not wearing a seatbelt, he got into an argument with the Inspector. Manikandan then tried to click pictures of the police for proof of police harassment. Manikandan said in a video message on WhatsApp, “The police hit me with an iron rod. They also snatched away my original license and abused me mentioning my caste. I took their visuals. They dared if I’d share them on WhatsApp and YouTube.”
After uploading the video Manikandan removed fuel from his car and immolated himself. Kilpauk Government Medical College Hospital Dean Dr. P. Vasanthamani said, “A team of doctors has been constituted to treat him. We are hopeful that he would survive. He’s in the ICU at the moment.”
This incident aggravated the people in the city and more than 100 people blocked the busy road to protest. Chennai Police Commissioner A. K. Viswanathan said, “Action will be taken against police personnel if they are found erring and responsible for this.” The Police Commissioner visited Manikandan in the Government Hospital.
