A shocking incident of violence marred a family pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu when a retired army veteran from Nagaland was brutally assaulted by a group of local auto-rickshaw drivers. The attack, stemming from a minor traffic dispute, occurred near Dhanushkodi in Ramanathapuram district on Wednesday.
Pilgrimage Turns Violent Near Sacred Temple
The victim, identified as Joginder Pal Singh, was visiting the revered Kothandaramaswamy temple with 14 family members. Due to severe traffic congestion on the national highway, their vehicle was forced to drop them off at a distance, compelling the group to proceed on foot towards the shrine.
During their walk, an autorickshaw navigating through the crowded path allegedly brushed against Singh's wife. When the retired soldier cautioned the driver to be more careful, a simple request quickly spiraled into a heated argument.
Dispute Escalates into Brutal Assault
The auto driver, Chandran from Netaji Nagar, responded with abusive language and physically pushed Singh's wife, according to police reports. As Joginder Pal Singh stepped in to protect her, a group of local auto drivers gathered at the spot, transforming the verbal spat into a violent physical clash.
The situation turned extremely dangerous when Chandran allegedly retrieved an iron rod from his three-wheeler and struck Singh on the head. Other drivers reportedly joined in, attacking the remaining family members who were present at the scene.
Arrests Made and Victim Hospitalized
The injured veteran was immediately rushed to the Rameswaram government hospital for initial emergency treatment. Given the seriousness of his injuries, he was later referred to the Ramanathapuram government hospital for advanced medical care.
Acting on a formal complaint, the Dhanushkodi police have arrested the primary accused, Chandran. Cases have also been registered against two other drivers, Murugan and Servaran, both residents of MRT Nagar in Rameswaram. The police investigation into the full scope of the incident is ongoing.
This assault on a retired serviceman and his family during a religious journey has raised serious concerns about tourist safety and law and order in the busy pilgrimage zone of Dhanushkodi.
