Three people have been arrested for allegedly beating a senior police officer to death in Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, police said on Monday.
The 56-year-old officer, identified as Senthilkumar, was a Theni district superintendent of police. He was returning home on Sunday night when he noticed three people bursting firecrackers in the middle of the road at Samadharampuram, police said.
According to the investigation, Senthilkumar questioned them for causing inconvenience to the public. When they allegedly ignored him, he began recording them on his mobile phone, triggering an argument.
A scuffle followed, during which one of the three allegedly struck the officer with an iron rod. Senthilkumar collapsed at the scene.
A nearby patrol team took him to the district government hospital, where he was declared dead on Monday despite medical intervention. His body has been sent for an autopsy.
Police confirmed that three people had been arrested in connection with the incident. An officer told Hindustan Times, “We have arrested three of them right now. I cannot share any other details in this matter.” Theni sub-division police have registered a case against the accused.
Superintendent of Police KS Praveen Gowtham visited the site on Monday and conducted an inquiry.
Opposition parties criticise Tamil Nadu government
The killing was among several incidents reported across different districts of Tamil Nadu over a 24-hour period on Sunday.
Opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), criticised the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) over the officer’s death and other incidents.
The parties alleged that the state’s law and order situation had deteriorated. Theni is located around 600 km south of Chennai.
