Drunk man keeps police, fire service personnel at bay

Tirunelveli: An inebriated person kept police and fire service personnel at bay for nine hours near Tirunelveli on Monday night after climbing a coconut tree to steal tender coconut for buying liquor, police said on Tuesday.

Police said  Madappan, 50, came down only after much cajoling and after being assured that no case would be filed against him.

Police had to move cautiously as he had a sickle with him and finally took him into custody.

Madappan was in the habit of stealing goods for buying liquor and last night, after taking liquor, he had climbed a tree at Kunnathur near here to slash a bunch of tender coconuts, police said.

Police added that Madappan feared that the owner of the coconut grove would kill him or beat him and refused to come down, despite repeated pleas.

When the fire service personnel arrived with a ladder, he cut coconut fronds and threw it at them. He also threw coconuts at them, forcing the fire service personnel to retract their steps.

Police said the man kept them at bay from 10 pm on Monday night to 6 am on Tuesday.

Madappan was let-off after being reprimanded, police said, adding, no case was filed as he did not steal anything.