Woman sets herself on fire as cops nab son in extortion case

Tension prevailed following high drama in Elephant gate on Sunday evening when a 44-year-old woman set herself on fire after police arrived at her house to detain her labourer son for an assault case. The woman was admitted to Kilpauk Medical Hospital. Police claimed that the labourer was notoriously known for extortion. Police said they went to PK Garden in Elephant Gate to detain Dilibabu (23) for questioning following a complaint from an auto driver, Kumaresan, when the his mother Devayani (44) set herself on fire.

Kumaresan lodged a complaint that Dilibabu had assaulted him after he refused to pay him extortion money. A police team headed by Elephant Gate inspector S Ramesh Babu went to Dilibabu’s house to detain him on Sunday evening when his neighbours and his mother stopped them from entering the house.  Even as the police attempted to bring him to the police station, Devayanai doused herself in kerosene from a pump stove and set herself afire. Immediately, the police rushed the woman to a hospital. Her condition is said to be critical.

Though the police team returned without the man, angry residents said they would gherao the police station if something happened to Devayanai. Residents alleged that it was a false case put up against the 23-year-old. However, police sources claimed that Dilibabu was known for extorting money from labourers and had many cases of assault against him. “Dilibabu’s uncle Kandan is a notorious rowdy and we arrested him on Saturday in connection with attempt to murder case. He had many pending cases against him,” police claimed.

Four Held in AP for Double Murder

Police traced the accused in connection with a double murder at Tiruvallur and arrested four of them in Chittoor district, AP on Sunday.

Police rounded up and arrested four of them - Suresh (28) and his brother Ramesh (24) of VRP Chatram near Sriperumbadur, Narain (27) of Kadambathur, Tiruvallur district and Raja (26) of Koovam village, Tiruvallur district - at Chittoor on Sunday morning. Police said they were hiding in a house.

On July 27, a seven-member gang killed Sathyaraj (22) of VRP Chatram near Sriperumbadur and his friend Prakash when they went to Thodukadu. There was suspicions that Sathyaraj had enmity with Suresh of Polivakkam village, over getting a contract.