The death of 19-year-old Amuthan, a third-year student at a private college in Coimbatore, is reportedly the outcome of a retaliatory clash rather than a drug-related incident. Tamil Nadu Law Minister C. T. R. Nirmal Kumar provided this clarification in response to a Special Attention Motion during an Assembly session held on August 17. The Minister stated that initial police investigations suggest that a confrontation occurred between second-year and fourth-year students on the evening of August 9, which set the stage for prior enmity.

Following this altercation, at approximately 1:30 am on August 10, Amuthan and his companions allegedly sought retribution by confronting the fourth-year students involved in the earlier dispute. This confrontation escalated into further violence involving other students at Othakkal Mandapam before the accused fled the scene by car. Injured students were reported to have received treatment at a private medical facility.

In the aftermath, at around 8:30 am on August 10, those students who had been attacked allegedly confronted Amuthan and his friends, leading to a subsequent assault. The Minister indicated that Amuthan was left near a friend’s residence in Malumichampatti around 10:30 am after being repeatedly attacked. By 3 pm the same day, he was found unconscious and was then taken to a hospital, where it was later confirmed that he had passed away.

Legal Actions and Government Response

Nirmal Kumar articulated that both the police investigation and the preliminary findings had determined that Amuthan’s death was not drug-related, countering allegations raised by the Leader of the Opposition. The Minister emphasised that there was no substantiation for suggestions that Amuthan had been attacked following any report to authorities regarding drug abuse. “This is not a drug-related case,” he stated, underlining the need to avoid misconstruing the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In response to the situation, the Tamil Nadu government has extended financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh to the victims as stipulated under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The Minister also assured that the government remains committed to supporting the family affected by this tragic event.

Addressing Broader Issues of Student Safety and Drug Use

The Tamil Nadu government is seeking measures to address group dynamics and conflicts among students in educational institutions. Minister Nirmal Kumar called on the School Education Department to implement strategies aimed at reducing such conflicts and promoting unity among students. He proposed strengthening the role of teachers as student counsellors, aiming to guide students positively.

Additionally, the Minister commented on a wider concern regarding drug use in the state, noting an observed increase over the past five years. He cited the arrest of Jaffer Sadiq, alleged to be an international drug-trafficking kingpin, and hinted at purported connections between him and the former Chief Minister’s family. This statement reflects an ongoing concern over the state’s drug-related issues and the measures being taken to combat it.

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has been reported to be pursuing legal frameworks to deter drug proliferation in Tamil Nadu, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to addressing public health and safety concerns related to substance abuse.

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