Police raided some houses in a village near here today aftersome crude bombs were thrown at some personnel posted on security dutyfollowing a clash between two groups of dalits, police sources said.
Sixty-nine persons, including 52 women, belonging to the VPudupatti village, 40 kmfrom here, who had taken refuge in a nearby hill, were arrested as they refusedto return and police apprehended that there could be more violence if theycontinued to stay there, police said.
The clash between two groups of dalits who were atloggerheads for the past several years, erupted a few days ago after someunidentified persons pelted stones at the houses of a rival group.
Police had arrested two persons two days ago in connectionwith the clash and were investigating.
Meanwhile, more than 200 dalits took refuge in a nearbyhill,alleging that police were harassing them.
Police were deployed in the village and near the hill ,police said, adding, last night some miscreants hurled some country bombs atthe police team posted in the village but none were injured as the bombs didnot explode.
SP Najmalhoda tried to persuade those who had taken refugein the hill to return to the village but they refused, police said.
Police apprehended that if the group continued to stay inthe hill,there could be more violence, and arrested 69 persons including 52women today, sources said.
The bombs had been defused.
Police raided the houses in the village to find if bombs hadbeen stored, sources added.