Tension prevails as people resort to 'road roko'

Chennai, Oct 12 (UNI) Tension prevailed in the busy Parry's Corner area today as the public resorted to a 'road roko' following the death of a man, which threatened to balloon into a communal issue due to a road accident two-days ago.

Traffic came to a standstill on arterial roads in the area and police personnel were deployed in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident.

Police sources told UNI that Dinesh (26), a labourer residing in the Clive Battery area, near Parry's Corner, was walking along with his friend Bharathy (24) in Mannady Street on Wednesday, when Abdul Rahman (20) and Jaffer Sadiq (21), travelling in a motorcycle, hit them.

A heated argument ensued which later turned into a bloody fisticuff.

Bharathy, who sustained severe head injuries in the fight, was rushed to the Government General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries this morning.

As the news spread, about 500 people, including women from the Clive Battery area, hit the streets blocking traffic on the Beach Station road and in Parry's corner, throwing normal traffic out of gear.

When people started giving a communal colour to the incident senior revenue officials rushed to the spot and pacified the agitators.

For his part, AIADMK MLA P K Sekar Babu extended his support to the public.

After assurance from the police that necessary action would be taken against the two-wheeler riders, the agitators dispersed.

UNI