Coimbatore Worker Succumbs to Injuries Days After Gang Assault; Case Altered to Murder

Coimbatore: A 34-year-old daily-wage worker who was allegedly attacked by a group of four persons near Periyanaickenpalayam in Coimbatore died while undergoing treatment at the Coimbatore Government Hospital on Thursday. Following his death, police have altered the case registered initially as an attempt to murder to a murder case.

The deceased has been identified as Pradeep Kumar (34), a resident of Samanayakkanpalayam who was living with his parents. He was the younger son of Vijayakumar and Girija (54), originally from Vellamadai East Street near Periyanaickenpalayam.

According to the police, on the night of August 17, Pradeep Kumar was taken by a group of persons from Poonga Nagar in Vellamadai to a vacant plot near a private garden in Somanayakkanpalayam.

He was allegedly assaulted at the spot, leaving him critically injured. Pradeep Kumar was found bleeding and in a serious condition following the attack. Relatives and members of the public who came to know of the incident rescued him and shifted him to the Coimbatore Government Hospital in a 108 ambulance.

He was admitted to the intensive care unit and remained under treatment for three days. Based on a complaint lodged by his mother, Girija, Periyanaickenpalayam police registered a case and began an investigation.

In the initial case, police booked four persons — Karthik (44), Prakash (26) and Harikrishnan (23), all from Poonga Nagar, and Siva (24) of Madurai — under the charge of attempt to murder.

Pradeep Kumar subsequently succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Following his death, Periyanaickenpalayam police altered the case to murder and intensified the probe into the circumstances leading to the assault and the roles of those allegedly involved.

Further investigation is underway.