The Hindu : Front Page : Bid to attack DMK village panchayat chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 18, 2006
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Bid to attack DMK village panchayat chief

K. Manikandan

Rival factions indulge in arson and looting in Sirukalathur

REDUCED TO CINDERS: The house of Anbu, slain husband of former president of Sirukalathur village panchayat. — Photo : K.Manikandan

TAMBARAM: Tension prevailed for hours in Sirukalathur village near Kunrathur on Sunday after supporters of rival factions indulged in arson and looting shortly after an attempted attack on the DMK panchayat president.

Harikrishnan, Sirukalathur village panchayat president, was returning from a reception for Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at Pallavaram, when his vehicle was intercepted by a gang in a car on the Anakaputhur-Kunrathur Main road at around 10 a.m.

The machete-wielding gang attacked the panchayat chief's car and reportedly hurled a country bomb. The assailants fled the scene when residents gathered at the spot.

Soon after information spread, Mr. Harikishnan's supporters went on the rampage damaging houses on Nagarathnam Street in Sirukalathur. They set fire to the thatched house of Anbu, slain husband of Ranjitham, who was village panchayat president in the previous term and who contested for the post this year. Anbu was murdered in 2003 and Mr. Harikrishnan's relatives were named as accused in the case.

The police said special teams were formed to nab the culprits. A few machetes and three country bombs were seized from the car of the assailants.

The panchayat chief is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.

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