A 50-year-old man who sustained injuries on Wednesday after accidentally falling from a short bridge while being questioned by the public on suspicion of theft died at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai early on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Lakshmanan, a resident of Immanuel Nagar in Avaniyapuram.
Incident Details
According to police, Lakshmanan was mentally disturbed. On Wednesday night, he allegedly rummaged through a temple donation box and stole a torchlight from a flower seller in the Vellakal area. When he attempted to flee, passersby chased and apprehended him. They made him sit on a short bridge and were questioning him when he suddenly fell off the bridge, sustaining injuries.
Police stated that Lakshmanan’s family members took him home from the spot. On Thursday, his health deteriorated, and he was rushed to GRH. He died around 4:30 a.m. on Friday.
Family Allegations
On Friday, Lakshmanan’s relatives alleged that he died due to torture in police custody. However, police refuted these claims, emphasizing that the deceased was never taken to the police station. They added that the family members themselves informed hospital staff that Lakshmanan’s injuries resulted from an accidental fall.
No case has been registered in connection with the incident.
