TN Govt hails fisherman's humanitarian gesture

Chennai, Mar 5 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today sanctioned a solatium of Rs two lakh to the family of a fisherman, who lost his life while trying to protect an Australian tourist from a mentally deranged man.

Murugan, a 29-year-old fisherman hailing from a fishing hamlet near Mamallapuram, was returning home in his two-wheeler on February 25, when he saw a mentally deranged person throwing stones at the tourist. In a humanitarian gesture, Murugan tried to save the tourist, when the lunatic turned his ire on him. He died on the spot.

When this sad incident was brought to his notice, the Chief Minister, expressing shock and grief, ordered payment of Rs two lakh to the family of Murugan from the Chief Minister's General Relief Fund, considering his poor family background, an official release here said.

The Chief Minister, who hailed Murugan's humanitarian gesture, offered his codolences to the family members, it said.

UNI WS GD PJ DS1403