Police have registered a case against 14 members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Thuraiyur, Trichy, for allegedly attacking an ambulance crew and damaging their vehicle during a public rally by party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening when a 108 ambulance, on its way to pick up an accident victim, attempted to pass through the area where the AIADMK rally was being held. According to police, party cadres blocked the vehicle, assaulted the driver, Senthil, and a pregnant technician, Hemalatha, and damaged the ambulance’s windshield. The crew was rescued by police and admitted to a government hospital for treatment.
The attack comes days after Palaniswami had allegedly warned that “if an empty ambulance comes, the person driving the vehicle will become the patient” during a previous rally. The driver of the ambulance told reporters that they were rushing to attend to a person who had fainted near the campaign venue.
The police have booked the 14 individuals, including Thuraiyur town AIADMK secretary “Amaithi” Balu, under various sections of the law, including rioting and criminal intimidation.