Ramanathapuram: The death of a 52-year-old woman in a gruesome road accident near Kamudhi in Ramanathapuram district on Monday, sparked a huge protest by villagers who blocked vehicular traffic on Perunaazhi-Arupukottai highway in the district for more than three hours, demanding action against a policeman allegedly responsible for the mishap.
Police said people of Keezhakudi village from where the deceased woman hailed, at one stage had turned restless and had heated exchanges with a group of senior police officers who rushed to the accident spot. In the heat of the moment, the glass pane of a police vehicle was smashed in a sudden bout of stone-pelting even as the protesters were being pacified by the police officers.
The deceased woman Veeramachi was riding pillion with her husband Pommaiyah, 58, on their two-wheeler and they were on their way home after participating in a local temple function when the vehicle of a special sub-inspector of police attached to Valinokkam police station rammed into the two-wheeler.
Under the impact of the collision, Veeramachi died on the spot, while her husband escaped with minor injuries. He promptly filed a complaint with the Perunaazhi police demanding action against the SI responsible for the accident, but no action was forthcoming.
Enraged by the police’s inaction, villagers of Keezhakudi came on to the highway and staged a road-roko, blocking vehicular traffic for over three hours. Hearing of the road-roko higher level police officials led by Mudukulathur DSP rushed to the spot and held talks with the agitators. It was then that a section of the protesters pelted stones at the Perunaazhi police inspector’s vehicle.
To avert any further escalation of tension, higher police officials ensured that an FIR was registered against special SI Ravichandran, allegedly responsible for the mishap, after which the protesters gave up their road-roko and dispersed.
