In a shocking incident of workplace violence, the Trichy Fort Police have arrested a 25-year-old private bus driver for allegedly murdering the 35-year-old conductor of the same vehicle. The fatal assault stemmed from a personal dispute over a missing wallet and occurred at the busy Chathiram bus terminus on Friday evening.
The Fatal Dispute Over a Missing Wallet
The victim has been identified as G Prathap Singh, a resident of Pudur Uthamanur near Lalgudi. He worked as a conductor on a VBL bus that operated between Chathiram bus stand and Thuvakudi. According to police investigations, the chain of events began when Prathap Singh's wallet went missing recently.
Singh reportedly suspected the bus driver, N Mookan (25) from Kattur, of stealing his wallet. He confronted Mookan with the allegation, but the driver denied any involvement. Unconvinced, Prathap Singh then told his friends that Mookan was responsible for the theft of his purse, a claim that reached the accused and escalated tensions between the two colleagues.
A Premeditated Attack at the Bus Terminus
The simmering hostility boiled over on Friday evening while both were on duty. An argument erupted between the duo at the Chathiram bus terminus. Police stated that N Mookan, in a fit of rage, left the scene and went to Gandhi Market. There, he purchased a knife before returning to the terminus.
The driver then allegedly assaulted Prathap Singh near the platform of the Thuvakudi bus bay. The conductor sustained severe injuries on his neck and chest from the knife attack. He fell unconscious immediately and was pronounced dead on the spot, turning a personal quarrel into a tragic homicide.
Swift Police Action and Arrest
On receiving information about the violent crime, police personnel rushed to the Chathiram bus terminus. After securing the scene and initiating an investigation, they swiftly apprehended the accused driver, N Mookan. He has been taken into custody and charged with murder.
This gruesome incident has sent shockwaves through the local transport community and highlights how a minor personal dispute can spiral into irreversible violence. The Trichy Fort Police are continuing their investigation into the case.
