Coimbatore: The brutal murder of a 19-year-old mechatronics engineering student, whose family claimed he had exposed drug abuse on campus, has sparked a political controversy in Tamil Nadu, with the Opposition DMK raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly.

Amid protests by student organisations, both the college management and police have denied any drug-related motive for the killing, saying the attack stemmed from personal enmity and a retaliatory clash.

Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the murder and launched a hunt for 11 others who are absconding.

According to police, preliminary post-mortem findings at Singanallur ESI Hospital showed that the victim suffered severe blunt-force injuries from iron rods and wooden logs, resulting in fatal internal bleeding and acute respiratory failure.

The student's father, Kennedy, alleged that his son was targeted because he had exposed drug abuse and ganja trafficking on the college campus.

The family also alleged that the college management and local police had pressured him to identify students involved in drug abuse and later leaked his identity to the accused.

Police report

Police, however, said a preliminary inquiry indicated that the attack was linked to a retaliatory clash arising from a senior-junior dispute.

According to police, a group of students targeted the victim after suspecting him of involvement in a masked phone-snatching and extortion incident on the morning of August 10.

The victim, a...

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