A 24-year-old drunk man allegedly caused the death of two persons, including a woman, while escaping after a robbery bid here, police said today.
The incident occurred last night when Nandini and her relative Najju were riding on a two-wheeler after drawing cash from an ATM at Pattinapakkam. The accused Karunakaran came in a motorbike, snatched Najju's handbag and sped away, they said.
Nandini (24) tried to chase the culprit but she lost control of her vehicle. The vehicle then hit a boulder and she died of head injuries, police said, adding Najju is undergoing treatment for injuries on her face.
The accused, while escaping, then hit a senior citizen, Sekar, who succumbed to his injuries at a government hospital, police said.
Immediately, the locals surrounded Karunakaran and thrashed him before setting his bike on fire, police said, adding a team of police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
Police said the accused, who was found in an inebriated state, had noticed the women drawing cash from the ATM and then followed them to steal the money.
Based on a complaint by Najju, Karunakaran was booked for "culpable homicide not amounting to murder," police said, adding Commissioner T K Rajendiran held detailed enquiries at the spot where the incident happened.
