Other States - Puducherry   

15 persons injured in group clash

Photo: T. Singaravelou

AFTER THE CLASH: Stones strewn on the roads of Veerampattinam after the clash. —

PUDUCHERRY: An uneasy calm prevailed in the coastal village of Veerampattinam, on Friday.

The village witnessed violent clashes between two groups of fishermen on Thursday. A total of 15 persons, including five policemen, sustained injuries.

According to the Ariankuppam police, the group clash was triggered by a drunken brawl involving three persons belonging to South Street and North Street of Veerampattinam.

Trouble began after Murugan, a resident of South Street, was allegedly beaten up by residents of North Street Siva and Sakthivel, who objected to him consuming alcohol in their locality, the police said.

When some of Murugan’s friends came to know of the incident, they went to North Street and clashed with the residents. A small posse of policemen, that was posted in the locality as a preventive measure in view of the frequent group clashes in the village, persuaded the groups to disperse.

A few hours later, the groups, armed with lethal weapons, reassembled.

A team of policemen, led by V. Vijayakumar, Superintendent of Police (North), arrived at the spot and tried to pacify the fishermen. As neither of the rival groups refused to relent and indulged in stone throwing, the police resorted to lathi charge.

Police personnel fired in the air, besides bursting teargas shells to disperse the crowd.

The police said 10 villagers were injured in the clash. Three of them were admitted to the General Hospital, but discharged later.

Mr. Vijayakumar, Inspector of Ariankuppam Bakthavalsalam, and three other policemen suffered minor injuries in the stone throwing.

The police registered three cases and arrested 10 persons belonging to the two groups.

A police team, including personnel from the Indian Reserve Battalion, have been deployed in the village to prevent escalation of violence.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Power shutdown
Attack flayed
CPI(ML) for radical land reforms
Appointed
Workshop for bloggers
Burglars target two houses at Lawspet
15 persons injured in group clash
Man killed as roof collapses
Animation film on HIV/AIDS

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu