Police in Coimbatore have made arrests in a shocking case of violence that resulted in the death of a young migrant worker from West Bengal. The Bazaar police took two local men into custody on Monday, charging them with murder following a fatal altercation near Ukkadam.
The Incident and Arrests
The accused have been identified as A Bajith Khan, 30, an auto-rickshaw driver attached to the city police home guard team, and his friend R Prakash, 38. Both men are residents of Karumbukadai in Coimbatore. They stand accused of murdering R Suraj, a 22-year-old guest worker hailing from Midnapore in West Bengal.
Suraj, who lived in the Pullukadu housing unit and worked at a local eatery in Karumbukadai, was talking with his friend Raketh (21), also from West Bengal, on Sunday night. The tragic sequence began around 10:30 PM near the 16th block of the Pullukadu housing unit.
How the Altercation Turned Fatal
According to police reports, Bajith Khan was driving his passenger auto in a rash manner when he dashed against Suraj. When Suraj questioned him about his driving, a heated argument broke out between the two. Prakash soon joined his friend Bajith and both began abusing Suraj and Raketh.
The situation escalated rapidly when the duo demanded an apology from the two friends, threatening to kill them if they refused. Suraj stood his ground and declined to apologise. In response, Bajith Khan punched Suraj directly on his nose with significant force.
The blow caused a severe injury, and Suraj collapsed onto the road. His friend Raketh immediately ran to Suraj's residence to alert his family. Bystanders and onlookers at the scene quickly intervened, rushing the critically injured Suraj to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) for emergency treatment.
Victim Succumbs, Accused in Custody
Despite medical efforts, Suraj's condition did not improve. He succumbed to his injuries on Monday afternoon, transforming the case from assault to murder.
The Bazaar police, upon investigation, registered a formal murder case against Bajith Khan and R Prakash. The two accused were subsequently arrested and presented before a judicial magistrate. The court has ordered them to be remanded in judicial custody as the investigation proceeds.
This incident has cast a spotlight on the safety and security of migrant workers in the city and the consequences of road rage escalating into extreme violence. The police continue their probe into the exact circumstances surrounding the altercation.
