Thief thrashed to death in Tamil Nadu after failed break-in bid

CHENNAI: A 40-year-old man who attempted to break into a house in a village off Chengalpattu on Wednesday night, died after he allegedly fell into a drain while trying to escape and was  beaten up by villagers.

Police said the incident occurred at Kanthalloor, a village at the foothills of a hillock. Most residents of the village were daily labourers. On Wednesday, around 11.30 pm, a man attempted to break into a locked house belonging to one Babu who was undergoing treatment at the Government Hospital at Tambaram Sanatorium.

His wife was staying with him. Hearing the noise, other villagers gathered and caught the robber, but he escaped later and fell into an open drain. He was beaten up by his pursuers, police said.
Police who were later informed secured the man who was by then seriously injured. He later died on the way to hospital.

“We are yet to confirm the identity of the man. Preliminary investigation suggested that he had come to steal from one of the houses,” a police officer said.
Chengalpattu Taluk police have registered a case. Police said they were awaiting results of the autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of the death.