Man who died in Singapore riot identified

The Indian national who died in the riot in Little India, Singapore has been identified as Sakthivel Kumaravelu.

The Straits Times reported that the 33-year-old was a construction worker with a company called Heng Hup Soon.

Sakthivel was reportedly identified by a man who refused to be named, at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

The man said Sakhtivel’s family had not been informed of the unfortunate incident.

Sakthivel was killed when a bus hit him, causing enraged fellow workers to riot on the streets.

Five vehicles including three police cars and a civil defence ambulance were burnt while pictures and videos posted in social media showed two police cars being overturned by a cheering mob. Several private vehicles were also damaged in the fracas.

A total of 27 South Asian workers were arrested on charges of rioting, which is punishable by up to seven years in prison plus caning.