Four teenagers have been detained by Tamil Nadu police following a violent attack on a migrant worker near Chennai. The incident, which took place in the Thiruvallur district, involved the teens brutally assaulting the worker with machetes and other blunt objects. The graphic assault was filmed by the attackers and subsequently shared on social media, sparking widespread outrage.

The victim, identified as Suraj, a 24-year-old migrant worker from Odisha, was first accosted by the group on a train traveling from Chennai to Thiruttani. The situation escalated when the victim disembarked, at which point he was taken to a secluded area near a railway station and further assaulted. Videos from the scene show the attackers brandishing machetes, with one video showing an attacker posing with a "victory sign" next to the injured victim. Another video shows one of the accused brandishing a machete with a Tamil song playing in the background.

The victim sustained serious injuries to his head, face, and arm and is currently receiving treatment at the Thiruvallur Government Hospital.

Police swiftly responded to the incident, detaining all four individuals involved. Three of the 17-year-old attackers have been sent to a juvenile home in Chengalpattu, while the fourth was granted bail, with the court citing his education as the reason. Initial reports indicate that the attackers were under the influence of drugs at the time of the assault and that the attack was unprovoked.

The incident has drawn strong condemnation from political figures. Karti Chidambaram, a Member of Parliament from Sivaganga, has called for a statewide "Show of Force" by Tamil Nadu police to prevent similar incidents. He urged the police to prove its mettle by conducting massive vehicle checks and requiring history sheeters to report to the nearest police station.

Kovai Sathyan, a national spokesperson for AIADMK, blamed the incident on drug use among juveniles, calling for the accused to be tried as adults and labeling Tamil Nadu as a "narcotic state".

The incident has raised concerns about the safety and treatment of migrant workers in Tamil Nadu and has ignited a debate about juvenile crime and drug use.