Octogenarian robbed, dies

CHENNAI: An 80-year-old woman died of shock after she was robbed at Minjur railway station. Two men arrested in connection with the incident have been booked on murder charges.According to police, around 1 pm on Wednesday, P Annammal, of Grama Street in Thiruvottiyur, was seated at the Minjur railway station. She was on her way to see her son Ezhumalai on Deepavali. Her husband, Palani Reddy, died several years ago, the Korukkupet railway police, who are investigating the case, told Express.Annammal was carrying Rs 10,000 with her in a bag when all of a sudden, two men snatched the money and took to their heels. Annammal, who suffered from low blood pressure, swooned due to shock and was taken to a nearby hospital. She died at 7.30 pm.Her body was sent to the Stanley Government Hospital for postmortem, the railway police said.M Nandakumar (36) of Ennore and S Velu (26) of Gummidipoondi, Tiruvallur district, who had fled the spot, were caught by the public and handed over to the stationmaster, who filed a complaint with the railway police. Canteen Employee Killed in Drunken BrawlA verbal duel among a group of friends ended in the death of a 21-year-old youth at Velachery on Wednesday.Four persons were arrested, while the fifth suspect is absconding.According to police, the deceased, S Mariappan of Third Street in Lakshmi­puram, Velachery, was working at a private mess.On Wednesday evening, he and his colleagues Kutty, Ramesh and Muthumani gathered at a teashop in Dhandeeswaran Nagar. Soon, they were joined by two others, Manoharan and Vijayakumar, both carpenters. All of them were allegedly in an inebriated condition and their conversation turned into a brawl. In the pushing and shoving, Mariappan fell down and suffered head injuries.Locals, who saw him lying motionless on the ground, called the police, who took him to a private hospital, where he was declared dead. While Manoharan, Vijayakumar, Ramesh and Muthumani were arrested, Kutty is absconding.