Coimbatore: College student dies after alleged assault near Malumichampatti; five detained
A 19-year-old college student died in a hospital on Monday after he was allegedly assaulted by a group of persons near Malumichampatti in Coimbatore. Police have detained five college students for questioning in connection with the murder case.
The deceased, Amuthan, was a resident of Poonga Nagar, Othakkalmandapam, an area on the outskirts of Coimbatore. The incident is part of a chain of events that began in the early hours of Monday. According to the police, Amuthan was allegedly involved in an earlier attack on another student, and the assault that led to his death is believed to have been carried out in retaliation.
The first incident occurred around 5.30 a.m. on Monday. A group of persons allegedly entered a rented house in Poonga Nagar, where Elavarasan (18), a second-year Civil Engineering student, was staying with his friends. The intruders assaulted the occupants and took away a mobile phone. Based on the complaint filed by Elavarasan, a case was registered at the Chettipalayam police station.
During the investigation, the police identified Amuthan as one of the persons allegedly involved in that attack. Around 8.30 a.m., about three hours after the first incident, Amuthan and his friend Sriman (19) were intercepted near Malumichampatti by a group allegedly connected with the earlier incident. The two were taken to a ground behind a private college and assaulted. The attackers then fled the scene.
Despite the assault, Amuthan managed to return to his room around 10 a.m. He did not appear to have suffered visible injuries and did not immediately seek medical help. However, at approximately 3 p.m., he developed breathing difficulty. His condition worsened, and he was rushed to a hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment. The exact cause of death has not been officially stated.
Based on a complaint lodged by Sriman, the police registered a murder case. On Tuesday, five college students were secured—that is, taken into custody for questioning—in connection with the murder. Their names have not been released to the media. The police have said that efforts are continuing to identify other individuals who may have participated in the assault.
Preliminary investigation has indicated that the assault on Amuthan was in retaliation for his alleged role in the attack on Elavarasan. The police also disclosed that Amuthan had been suspended from the college hostel in the previous month following an alleged assault on a hostel cook. Investigators are looking into whether this earlier disciplinary action and the incident at the rented house are connected to the events leading to Amuthan's death.
The police have stated that the investigation is ongoing. They are recording statements from witnesses, collecting evidence, and examining the sequence of events. They have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests. The authorities have also urged the public not to spread unverified information about the case, emphasising that the legal process will follow its course.
