Date:05/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/05/stories/2008110557520300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Three held with lorry

Staff Reporter

ARIYALUR: Three persons were caught within hours of escaping with a lorry they had hijacked after attacking the driver and cleaner during the late hours of Monday near Vilangudi Kaikatti.

The accused, Selvaraj (28) of Sengunthapuram, and Sampath (38) and Balasubramaniam (33) of Chinnavalayam had reportedly approached the driver Michael Antony (46) and cleaner Selvaraj (45), returning from Pondicherry to Tuticorin after delivering a load of urea, near Meensurutti, and had requested for a lift till Vilangudi Kaikatti.

However, after reaching there, the trio overpowered the driver and cleaner, took possession of the lorry, and snatched Rs. 9,000 cash, before throwing them out. But, Selvaraj and Balasubramanian had left behind Sampath.

Locals came to their rescue and handed over Sampath, found in an inebriated condition, to the police. Upon receiving the alert, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ariyalur Town, Dandayuthapani and Inspector Sivasubramanian conducted checks on lorries in and around Jayankondam and apprehended Selvaraj and Balasubramanian, along with the lorry before dawn. The stationed lorry, suspected to be a stolen one, was confiscated.