SP injured in stone pelting, 10 protesters arrested

Chennai: High tension prevailed on the outskirts of Chennai after a Superintendent of Police was injured in a stone pelting during a protest condemning the death of a person in  mishap near Chengalpet around midnight on Saturday .

Santhosh Hadimani, SP, Kancheepuram district was trying to pacify the protesters, while a group of unidentified persons threw stones on police personnel. One of the stones hit Santhosh Hadimani on the head leading to bleeding.

“Residents of villages near Maraimalai Nagar blocked the road after a speeding bus killed a woman named Lavanya on Saturday night,” the police said. Lavanya (35) was run over by a government bus on GST Road near Maraimalai Nagar, while she was returning home with her husband and child. On learning about the incident, more than 200 villagers blocked the road and refused to allow the Maraimalai Nagar police to retrieve the body.

“Protesters demanded speed breakers on the national highway and steps to prevent accidents in the stretch,” the police said. Although the Maraimalai Nagar police tried to pacify the villagers, they refused to budge and vehicle movement was affected for more than 6 kilometers. The police diverted the traffic on alternate routes to clear the snarl.

Santhosh Hadimani also tried to pacify the crowd. “But the protesters did not pay heed to the SP, which forced the police to use force, mildly though,” the police added.

Some persons started to throw stones on police personnel injuring the SP and others. This action provoked the police and they lathi-charged the protesters until they scattered.

“Lavanya’s body was sent to the hospital after the protesters dispersed from the spot,” the police said. They registered a case and arrested 10 persons for the protest on Sunday.