TIRUVARUR: High tension gripped Peralam and adjoining areas Thursday following the murder of a CPM functionary near here on Wednesday night.
Four shops at Peralam bazar were set ablaze. A mob pelted stones at policemen, vans and STC buses at Thirumeeyachur access road. Two vans were damaged and six cops suffered injuries. Vehicular traffic was suspended in the area. Police used tear gas shells to disburse the mob. The body of Navalan was taken to Peralam with police escort after post-mortem at Tiruvarur GH.
CPM and AIADMK functionaries paid tributes to Navalan. Meanwhile, the Tiruchy Central Zone IG Karan Singha, Thanjavur Range DIG Thirugnanam, Nagapattinam SP Santosh Kumar, Thanjavur SP Dr K A Senthilvelan visited Peralam and supervised security arrangements. Vehicles were being diverted via Kumbakonam from Wednesday night.
Sources said Navalan (54), District Secretary of CPM-affiliated All India Farm Workers Association, was returning from Nagapattinam in a motorbike with his friend Raja (45) on Wednesday night. When they were nearing Mangudi near Peralam, a mob intercepted them and attacked Navalan with lethal weapons. When Raja tried to save him, he was also attacked. While Navalan died on the spot, Raja was admitted to Tiruvarur GH with severe injuries. Navalan is survived by wife, two sons and two daughters.
Sources said after a group clash on September 8, 2010, the houses of Pannerselvam, Perur DMK Secretary and his relatives were set ablaze. Four received cut injuries and Viji, a construction worker, was burnt alive. Peralam Police filed a case against 60 persons, including Navalan in this connection. In an act of revenge, Navalan was murdered, they added. Meanwhile in a complaint filed by Navalan’s wife Vasantha, she has stated that seven persons including Panneerselvam and his kin were responsible for the murder. The police have filed a case.