Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Student's murder over drug whistleblowing sparks Tamil Nadu political row
A 19-year-old college student in India was badly hurt and died.
He studied engineering and lived near his college.
His family says he told people about drugs being used and sold at his college.
Because of that, they think some students hurt him.
The police and the college say something different happened.
They say it was a fight between older and younger students.
The police have arrested eight people and are looking for 11 more.
Leaders in the state government are arguing about what really happened and who is to blame.
They are trying to find out the truth.
A 19-year-old mechatronics engineering student was murdered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, after his family alleged he exposed drug abuse on campus.
Police have arrested eight people and are hunting for 11 others who are absconding.
Post-mortem findings showed the victim died from blunt-force injuries caused by iron rods and wooden logs.
Police and the college management deny any drug-related motive, citing a retaliatory clash over a phone-snatching incident.
The killing sparked a political row, with Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin demanding accountability in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
- Who
- A 19-year-old third-year mechatronics engineering student at a private college in Coimbatore; his father, Kennedy; police; the college management; DMK Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin; and Education Minister A Rajmohan.
- What
- The murder of the student, allegedly for exposing drug abuse on campus, which has sparked a political controversy over the motive.
- When
- Reported on August 14; the victim was attacked on the morning of August 10 and died that afternoon.
- Where
- Near Malumichampatti, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu; the issue was raised in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
- Why
- The family says the student was targeted for exposing drug abuse and ganja trafficking, while police say the attack was a retaliatory clash over a masked phone-snatching and extortion incident.
Family and Opposition
Police and College Management
Motive for the killing
Family and Opposition
The student was targeted because he exposed drug abuse and ganja trafficking on campus; his father said his identity was leaked to the perpetrators, leading to his brutal death.
Police and College Management
The attack was a retaliatory clash stemming from a senior-junior dispute after the student was suspected of involvement in a masked phone-snatching and extortion incident; both police and the college deny any drug-related motive.
Role of college and police
Family and Opposition
The college management and local police pressured the student to identify drug users and later leaked his identity to the accused.
Police and College Management
The college says it was unaware the student was staying in a rented room after being evicted from the hostel and only learned of the assault on August 10; police say the inquiry indicates a localized clash between student groups.
Demand for independent inquiry
Family and Opposition
Opposition parties, led by Udhayanidhi Stalin, demand an independent, high-level inquiry and accountability.
Police and College Management
Minister A Rajmohan rejected the drug allegation, saying the investigation so far points to a localized retaliatory clash; the Speaker directed him to submit a detailed report at an upcoming call-attention motion.
- Victim
- 19-year-old third-year mechatronics engineering student at a private engineering college in Coimbatore
- Arrests
- 8 arrested; 11 absconding with police hunt underway
- Cause of death
- Blunt-force injuries from iron rods and wooden logs causing internal bleeding and acute respiratory failure
- Date of attack
- August 10
- Location
- Near Malumichampatti, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
- Family's claim
- Student exposed drug abuse and ganja trafficking; identity allegedly leaked by college management and local police
- Police version
- Retaliatory clash from a senior-junior dispute over a masked phone-snatching and extortion incident
- Suspension
- Victim and another student suspended on July 24 after allegedly assaulting hostel cook Manoj on July 21