Tamil Nadu cop death: Minister refutes charge of insensitivity

Coming under fire for allegedly not acting in time to save a bleeding Sub-Inspector attacked by a gang, Tamil Nadu minister MRK Pannerselvam today refuted as "totally wrong" the charge that he and another minister were insensitive towards the plight of the policeman who died.

In a case of shocking indifference, sub-inspector Vetrivel who was brutally attacked by a gang in Tirunelveli District, bled to death as his cry for help went in vain even after Paneerselvam and youth and sports development minister TPM Mohideen Khan with their convoy stopped by and saw his plight.

Refuting AIADMK MLA Sekarbabu's charge in the assembly that the two ministers did not take any steps to hospitalise Vetrivel, who was battling for life on the road, Pannerselvam said the allegation was totally wrong.

He said on seeing the policeman's plight, he and Khan immediately called for an ambulance, which had to come from Tenkasi. "As there could be delay, we arranged for a police vehicle to move him to hospital," he said.

Forty-four-year-old Vetrivel, a member of the Special Task Force that gunned down forest brigand Veerappan in 2004, lay in a pool of blood with his leg severed and begged for help after the attack by the gang at Alwarkuruchi shortly before the ministerial convoy was to pass by.

The two ministers came under fire after TV footage showed the profusely-bleeding sub-inspector crying for help in their presence and with eyewitnesses alleging that he did not get assistance in time from them and accompanying officials.

The sub-inspector was badly injured after the assailants hurled country bombs at him and attacked him with sickles in a case of mistaken identity.