Student on bail commits suicide in Thoothukudi

Thoothukudi: A college student, on bail in connection with three mobile theft cases against him, committing suicide here triggered tension as the student’s Federation of India (SFI) launched a protest, demanding Rs 20 lakh compensation and government job for a member of the victim’s family.

A second year B. Com student, Velmurugan (20) son of Murugan along with his friend, Saji (22) son of Raja, studying second year Economics at another college in Thoothukudi, was accused of indulging in mobile snatchings. 

Three women including a nurse working at Thoothukudi government Medical college hospital lost their mobiles to the two youths, whose modus operandi was to snatch the mobiles from its users while riding on motorbike.

Thoothukudi South police registered three cases against these two youths and arrested them on July 11. The court, however, on August 3 released Velmurugan and Saji on bail with a condition to sign daily at the police station.

However, Velmurugan since released on bail, was said to be in a frustrated mood and on Sunday evening, when nobody was at home, he was reported to have hung himself to death.

As Velmurugan was a member of SFI, the students body on Monday morning launched a strike in front of the private college (V O C College) and allowed nobody inside. The students too charged the police with falsely implicating Velmurugan in the three cases.  As tension mounted, the college administration, on the advice of the police, declared holiday on Monday.

The agitated students, however, demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of Velmurugan and a government job to one of the family members of the deceased.