AIADMK banner takes life of techie in Chennai

Chennai: A 23-year-old software engineer was killed in Chennai on Thursday after an illegal hoarding fell on her, following which she was hit by a water tanker. Although the woman was rushed to a hospital, she was declared brought dead.

Subashree, who worked at an IT company, was on her two-wheeler on the Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam Radial Road when an unauthorised life-size hoarding knocked her down. In seconds, a tanker hit her scooter, injuring her on head.

The woman, who was her way back home from her office, was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, eyewitnesses said, according to NDTV report. C Jeyagopal, an AIADMK leader, had out up several hoardings on the median for a family wedding.

The hoardings, which had pictures of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy, his deputy O Panneerselvam and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, were put on the median by a local leader of the ruling AIADMK. C Jeyagopal had got the hoardings put up for a family wedding which was attended by Panneerselvam or OPS.

"The hoardings are unauthorised. We are taking action against those who put them up," C Maheswari, Joint Commissioner of Police of Chennai South region said.

The driver of the tanker has been arrested. Chennai's civic body has sealed the press that allegedly printed the hoarding.

The police, however, did not confirm if a case has been registered against the AIADMK leader.

How many more litres of blood does the state government need to paint the roads, the Madras High Court said, adding that it has "lost faith in the government" as it slammed the Tamil Nadu government over illegal hoardings and the outrage over Subashree's death.

The opposition DMK has slammed the state government and the police over the young woman's death. "Illegal hoarding placed due to government apathy, irresponsibility of authorities and the police's incompetence has taken away Subashree's life.

How many lives are to be sacrificed for these atrocities due to the arrogance of power," DMK chief MK Stalin tweeted in Tamil.

Mr Stalin told his party workers that he will not participate in any function if banners or hoardings are put up. He also warned of strict action against those who put up such hoardings.

The AIADMK has also appealed to its party workers to stop putting up banners and hoardings.