Chennai: Four minors have been tracked down and arrested for attacking a 20-year-old youth from Odisha with sickles in Tiruttani, about 90 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

Till now, the motive behind the attack seems to be the making of a reel that was released on social media. One of the minors is seen flashing a victory sign in the video clip.

The victim had been identified as K Suraj from Odisha. He was not a migrant worker but had gone to Chennai after a domestic dispute.

The incident took place on Saturday when Suraj was travelling on the Chennai-Tiruttani EMU local. The four juveniles boarded the compartment when the train reached Tiruvalangadu. According to the police, the minors were in an intoxicated state and carried two sickles concealed in their bags to film Instagram reels.

“One of the juveniles started a conversation with Suraj in Hindi. A quarrel erupted between the group and Suraj, which continued until the train reached Tiruttani,” a senior police officer has been quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.

The group then allegedly took Suraj to the abandoned Old Railway Quarters nearby. While three of the juveniles attacked Suraj with sickles, the fourth boy recorded the violent act on his phone. The victim suffered severe cut injuries to his head, hands, and cheeks. The gang fled the scene, leaving Suraj bleeding.

Suraj, who had blacked out, walked to the main road after regaining consciousness. Passersby spotted him there and got him admitted to the Tiruttani General Hospital. He was later referred to the Tiruvallur Medical College and Hospital. His condition is stable.

Based on a tip-off and the reel uploaded by the group, police traced the minors. All of them are aged 17. They were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to the Observation Home in Purasaiwalkam.