Fury over deaths holds up traffic

[1]

Angry mobs took to the streets on Saturday at two places following the death of a girl and a woman constable in two different road mishaps.

When the driver of a stone blocks-laden lorry tried to speed away after running over Lakshya, 7, daughter of lorry-owner Ganesan, residing in Ettayyapuram village, Kancheepuram district, an angry mob gave chase and cornered the vehicle and set fire to it.

The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled.The public blocked the road and allowed the fire service personnel to extinguish the blaze only after about half-an-hour on wrangling an assurance from Kancheepuram police and revenue department officials that action would be taken against the offenders.

In the second incident, another angry mob blocked GST road after woman constable Vetriselvi, 27, a resident of Manimangalam, near Padappai, attached to Selaiyur police station, riding a scooter, was run over by a van. Traffic was disrupted for nearly an hour.

In both cases, public alleged that the spots were accident-prone zones due to rash driving of heavy vehicles and demanded that officials take concrete action to prevent accidents.

Woman constable’s death sparks protest in city

The death of a woman police constable in an accident near Irumpoliyur sparked protests in the area with protesters blocking the GST road for nearly an hour here on Saturday.

According to the police, Vetriselvi (27) a resident of Manimangalam near Padapai, died when a speeding van rammed into her scooter throwing her off the vehicle. Unfortunately, she came under the wheels of the van and died on the spot.

Vetriselvi was a constable attached to the Selaiyur police station. Her father Mr Palanisamy is a sub-inspector at Perrkankaranai policestation.

Reportedly, Vetriselvi had been transferred to the anti-vice squad on Friday and the accident took place when she was on her way to the office of the Joint Commissioners’ office at St. Thomas Mount.

Following the accident, angry locals gathered at the spot and staged a road roko demanding widening of the road as several accidents had occurred here earlier. Police officials rushed to the spot and pacified the public.

Locals alleged that the zone was accident prone and around six accident-related deaths had taken place here in the past six months.

The protesters dispersed only after the authorities promised to take up the issue with the Highways department.

The body of Vetriselvi was sent to the Chrompet Government Hospital for post-mortem. The St. Thomas Mount traffic investigation wing has registered a case and is investigating.