Tirunelveli Teenager Shot by Police After Machete Attack on Scheduled Caste Youth and Officer

A 17-year-old boy was shot and injured by police in Tirunelveli after he and his associate attacked a Dalit youth with a machete and tried to attack police personnel. The boys, who belonged to the most backward community, were already facing cases. The police, led by Sub-Inspector Murugan, opened fire after the teens landed multiple blows on the door of a nearby house. One teen was injured in the hip and fled the scene, while the other was taken to hospital. The police are searching for the escaped teen.

In a recent incident in Paappaakudi, Tirunelveli, a 17-year-old boy was shot and injured by police after he and his associate attacked a Dalit youth with a machete and attempted to attack police personnel. The incident occurred early on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.

The two teens, belonging to the most backward community, were already facing several cases. They attacked Sakthi, a 22-year-old Dalit youth, with a machete around 1:30 a.m. Sakthi was injured in the attack.

Paappaakudi police, led by Sub-Inspector Murugan, rushed to the scene. The teens, carrying machetes, chased the police, who then entered a nearby house for safety. The teens attempted to attack the police, leading to a confrontation where Sub-Inspector Murugan opened fire, injuring one of the teens in the hip. The injured teen fled the scene, while the other was taken to Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital.

The police are now searching for the escaped teen. According to villagers, the incident began after a minor scuffle between two caste groups, but escalated when the teens tried to attack the police.

This incident comes amidst ongoing investigations into custodial deaths in Sathankulam, where the Madras High Court has appealed to media outlets not to conduct a "media trial" that could affect the prosecution and accused. The court has transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) [2].

References:
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/17-year-old-youth-shot-by-police-after-he-attacks-scheduled-caste-youth-sub-inspector/article69867860.ece
[2] https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/sathankulam-police-custody-deaths-madras-hc-asks-for-status-report-in-sealed-cover