Ministers, bureaucrats waited for help as SI bled to death

CHENNAI: If the brutal murder of a sub-inspector of police in Tirunelveli district of southern Tamil Nadu on Thursday was shocking, here is
something that would shock one even more. Top officials and ministers were present at the spot where the inspector lay writhing due to injuries caused by an explosion from a crude bomb and sickles, but it took 20-30 minutes before he could be shifted to a vehicle. By then it was too late. Sub-inspector Vetrivel, father of two, was brought dead to the Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

State health minister MRK Panneerselvam, health secretary VK Subburaj, director of public health S Elango, environment minister TPM Mohideen Khan and Tirunelveli collector M Jayaraman reached the spot in a convoy, minutes after the SI was brutally attacked by a seven-member gang. Television footage aired on Friday showed chilling visuals of the SI writhing and groaning in pain on the road while officials and ministers stood around, apparently waiting for an ambulance.

Vetrivel was even seen sitting up, but the footage was blurred to avoid showing the badly wounded lower part of his body. Panneerselvam and other officials, meanwhile, were busy talking over mobile phones, possibly trying to get an ambulance. None seemed to have had the presence of mind to shift the wounded policeman to hospital in one of several vehicles standing by. The scene was captured by a local videographer engaged to cover the ministers’ visit.

However, officials present on the spot denied any undue delay, contending that barely 10 minutes had elapsed before Vetrivel was carried to an escort vehicle and rushed to hospital. Health minister Panneerselvam told TOI: “We ran out of the car to help the police nab the criminals. I ensured the doctors called the ambulance and attended to the victim.”