A quiet Saturday night in Chennai's Nolambur neighbourhood ended in tragedy when a 62-year-old migrant construction worker was beaten to death — over nothing more than a refused cigarette, police said. Four men have been arrested for the murder.
Key facts
- Victim: N. Abjith Mondal, 62, a native of West Bengal
- He was working at a construction site in Gajalakshmi Nagar, Nolambur
- The attack took place around 10.15 p.m. on Saturday (September 5, 2026)
- He died in the early hours of Sunday at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital
- Arrested: V. Vaseegaran (18), R. Ajay (18), S. Gokul Raj (18) and R. Sabari
What happened on Saturday night
City police said Mondal had been working at a construction site in Gajalakshmi Nagar of Nolambur. At about 10.15 p.m. on Saturday, four men from the same locality — all in an inebriated condition — approached him and demanded a cigarette.
When he refused, an argument ensued. The confrontation escalated with chilling speed: the assailants picked up a wooden log from the ground and attacked him. Mondal sustained severe head and body injuries in the assault.
Residents of the locality came to his aid and admitted him to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. The injuries, however, proved too grave. He died in the early morning on Sunday.
Four arrested for the murder
The Nolambur police arrested four persons — V. Vaseegaran (18), R. Ajay (18), S. Gokul Raj (18) and R. Sabari — for the murder. All four are from the same locality where the attack took place.
How the night unfolded
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday, ~10.15 p.m. | Four inebriated men approach Mondal and demand a cigarette |
| Moments later | His refusal sparks an argument; the attackers strike him with a wooden log |
| Saturday night | Residents rush the injured man to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital |
| Early Sunday | Mondal succumbs to his injuries |
| Police action | Nolambur police arrest four persons for the murder |
The case is a stark reminder of how quickly a trivial street demand can spiral into fatal violence. A man who had travelled across the country to earn a living at a Chennai construction site lost his life in a matter of minutes — leaving behind questions that the investigation will now have to answer.
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