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Teen Refugee Killed in Chennai After SUV Rams Scooter on Koyambedu Flyover

Police reclassified the case as murder after CCTV review and have arrested several men as the inquiry continues.

Overview

  • The collision happened after a bar fight spilled onto the street and then the Koyambedu flyover late on Saturday night, when an SUV struck a two-wheeler carrying 18-year-old Yancy and a 17-year-old friend.
  • Yancy, an 18-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil refugee, died at the scene from head injuries and the 17-year-old was admitted with serious wounds to Kilpauk Government Hospital.
  • Koyambedu police said they initially logged the death as a road accident but upgraded the case to murder after analysing CCTV footage that shows the SUV ramming the scooter.
  • Authorities have arrested multiple suspects — reports vary between six and seven — and identified Suman Sakthivel as the man who was driving the SUV; searches and witness and forensic inquiries are ongoing.
  • The case has highlighted risks faced by refugees and young people in nightlife disputes and could lead to further charges if CCTV, hospital records, and witness statements fully corroborate police claims about intent.