CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu minorities commission vice-chairman S Masthan, a former MP of the DMK, died of cardiac arrest at Urapakkam on Thursday afternoon. He was 66.
Masthan, a resident of Triplicane, was travelling in a car with Imran, a relative, around 2pm when, at Urapakkam near Tambaram, he expressed uneasines. He decided to get out of the vehicle and opened the door, but fell down and sustained injuries to the lips. His relative managed to lift him and took him to a private hospital in Urapakkam where doctors declared him dead. Police said cardiac arrest is suspected to be the cause of death.
His son Shahnawaz and other family members, who rushed to the hospital on hearing of the news, requested a postmortem and lodged a formal complaint after which the process was done at Government Royapettah Hospital. "My father's demise is extremely shocking. Since we wanted to reassure that it was a natural death, we requested for a postmortem," said Shahnawaz. The family had been making arrangements for the engagement of Masthan' son on Thursday evening. Masthan, who had been busy over the past few days inviting relatives for the function, had on Wednesday met newly sworn-in minister for youth welfare and sports development Udhayanidhi Stalin and extended his wishes to him.
As news of the death spread, messages offering condolences poured in. Chief minister M K Stalin, in a message posted on his official Twitter handle, expressed shock at the sudden demise of Masthan, and offered his deep condolences. Describing Masthan as a party footsoldier who had a special love and respect for him, the chief minister recalled Masthan's exemplary performance as the secretary of the DMK minorities wing. He was unmatched in hosting Iftaar parties, Stalin said, adding. "I have lost a field worker who strove not only for the welfare of minorities, but everyone."
He said that Masthan a few days ago had come to invite for his son's betrothal. He referred to him as a humanist and a sincere party worker engaged in social service.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here. Get
real-time live updates on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171.