Tirunelveli: An 18-year-old college student from Tirunelveli was allegedly assaulted on Wednesday evening after being lured to a location by a contact he had interacted with on Instagram, according to police officials.
The victim, identified as Chinnadurai, is a first-year B.Com student. He reportedly left his home around 6:15 p.m., telling his mother he was going to meet a friend in Palayamkottai. Later, at approximately 7:30 p.m., he called his mother from a stranger’s phone and informed her that he had been attacked near the District Science Centre.
Police officers rushed to the scene and found Chinnadurai with a minor injury on his right hand. He was immediately taken to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital in an 108 ambulance for treatment.
A special police team has been formed to investigate the incident and trace the culprits. During preliminary questioning, Chinnadurai revealed that he had gone to Vasantham Nagar near Kokkarikulam after receiving a message from a person he had met on Instagram.
According to his statement, upon reaching the location, he was confronted by four unidentified individuals who demanded money. When he told them he didn’t have any, the assailants reportedly attacked him with a stick and fled with his mobile phone, police said.
Chinnadurai told police that he could not recall his Instagram username or email credentials, complicating efforts to trace the online contact who lured him.
Authorities noted that this isn’t the first time Chinnadurai has faced violence. In 2023, he was allegedly assaulted by members of a dominant caste, an incident that had stirred significant attention across Tamil Nadu.
The latest assault has raised concerns once again, prompting authorities to intensify efforts. A special team has been constituted to thoroughly investigate the matter and apprehend the attackers.