Timely action could have saved cop, stresses Jayalalithaa

CHENNAI - AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa Monday expressed unhappiness at two DMK ministers and the Tirunelveli district collector allegedly neglecting to provide timely help to a policemen who bled to death on a road after attack some criminals.

Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to Governor Surjit Singh Barnala’s address on the last day of the assembly session, Jayalalithaa said: “The law and order in the state has worsened. In Tirunelveli, district police subinspecter R. Vetrivel was killed by a gang throwing bombs at him and attacking him with weapons.”

She said while Vetrivel was bleeding to death, nobody acted to save him - including the two DMK ministers and district officials who were present at the spot.

Vetrivel, attached to Alwarkurichi police station in Tirunelveli district, was hacked to death in broad daylight Thursday minutes before the convoy of ministers M.R.K. Paneerselvam and T.P.M. Mohideen Khan reached the spot.

Television footage showed the two ministers and top officials, including the police personnel, waiting for the arrival of ambulance without shifting the injured cop who was writhing in pain and bleeding profusely.

Responding to the charge, DMK minister Duraimurgan said: “There were seven or eight unexploded country bombs on the road. The health minister made phone calls to get the ambulance and medical help. Minister Mohideen Khan sent the injured cop to the hospital in a vehicle. Despite all this, Jayalalithaa is finding fault.”

Adding to that, Mohideen Khan said the injured cop was shifted to the hospital in his vehicle and one of his assistant was sent in that vehicle.

“The actions were taken with humane approach. Only those without conscience will find fault,” Khan said.

Reiterating her charge that nobody went to help the injured cop, Jayalalithaa said Vetrivel could have been saved had there been timely action, and placed some requests which Speaker R. Avudaippan expunged.

Continuing her speech, Jayalalithaa then criticised the DMK’s fiscal policies, power shortage in the state and other issues.