An undertrial was beaten to death allegedly by the employees of a private spinning mill in Salem when he entered the premises after escaping from police custody, police said on Wednesday.
Natarajan (35), who was caught in the Rajendra Mill premises on Tuesday was tied to a coconut tree and beaten mercilessly on suspicion that he was a thief, Assistant Commissioner of Police A Bhaskaran told PTI.
He soon collapsed and died, the police official said.
Bhaskaran said Natarajan was arrested on September 23 for selling illicit liquor in Kadathur in Dharmapuri district and was undergoing trial in the case.
When Natarajan was brought to Salem Central prison the next day, he was suffering from high fever and was admitted to Mohan
Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital for treatment, Bhaskaran said.
Though two policemen were posted to guard him at the hospital, Natarajan managed to escape from the hospital and was believed to have entered the mill on Tuesday, he added.
Three security guards and a gardener at the mill were arrested and a murder case has been registered, he added.
{{/usCountry}}Three security guards and a gardener at the mill were arrested and a murder case has been registered, he added.
{{/usCountry}}