Auto driver collapses, dies after beaten up by bus employees in Malappuram, brawl in name of picking up passengers

MALAPPURAM: An auto driver beaten up by employees of a private bus collapsed and died in the hospital. The dead is Abdul Latheef of Manoor and driver of Othukkungal stand. As he suffered physical discomfort after attacked, he drove himself to the hospital and on reaching there, he collapsed and died. One from his same locality identified him in the hospital. The police have taken three employees of the bus and the bus into custody. The incident happened Friday morning.

The employees thrashed Latheef for picking up passengers from the bus stop in Vadakkemanna. Two women who were on the roadside near the bus stop got into Latheef's auto, which was in front of the private bus PTB. Seeing this, the employees of the bus got irked, stopped the auto and then thrashed Latheef. His relatives alleged that he was held in the neck and then hit him on his chest.

Latheef decided to go to the hospital as he developed physical discomfort following the assault. He decided to lodge a complaint at the police station after seeing the doctor. However, he collapsed as soon as he reached the hospital. Some in the hospital said that there were some marks on his neck and other parts. It is not clear whether Latheef had any other health issues. The body has been shifted to the mortuary. Police said the cause of death will be clear only after the postmortem report is obtained.

Latheef leaves behind his wife and four children. An auto driver was beaten up by staff of a bus in Tanur yesterday in a dispute over picking up passengers.