Man who was 'forced to drink poison' dies at Madurai hospital

MADURAI: A 65-year-old local DMK functionary, who was allegedly forced to drink poison recently, died at the Government Rajaji Hospital here on Tuesday morning.
Tension prevailed on the hospital premises as the relatives of Ammaiyandi refused to receive his dead body. They demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits.
The Silaiman police registered a murder case and were investigating.
The police said there was a quarrel issue between Ammaiyandi and one Pitchai from Panaiyur during a local temple festival in August.Ammaiyandi’s wife Palaniammal sustained injuries in the incident. She was admitted at the Government Rajaji Hospital. Ammaiyandi was taking care of Palaniammal.
On Friday last, a group of unidentified persons who came to the hospital spoke to Ammaiyandi. They approached him saying they wanted to make peace between the two families and took him in a car.
When Ammaiyandi failed to return, his family members started to search for him. Later, they were informed that he was found lying unconscious on a railway track near Kallambal, a few kms away from Panaiyur. He had suffered serious injuries and was admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital.
Doctors at GRH found that he had consumed poison, and his relatives alleged that he had been forced to drink poison by his abductors.
Ammaiyandi died on Tuesday morning without responding to treatment.