17 injured in group clash
THOOTHUKUDI: Around 17 persons were injured in a clash between two groups at the Veerapandia Kattabomman festival held at Panchalankurichi in Thoothukudi district.
Fifty-one persons have been arrested in connection with the clash.
The Veerpandia Kattabomman festival, which is celebrated with the Veersakadevi temple festival at Panchalankurichi, started on Friday. Similarly, the Chitirai festival was held at the Karuppasami temple in Panchalankurichi. As the three festivals were going on simultaneously, many people thronged Panchalankurichi. Around 1,000 police personnel were deployed in the area, while Tirunelveli Range DIG V Varadaraju and Thoothukudi SP Rajendran oversaw the security arrangements.
On Friday night, a group resorted to stone-pelting after a clash erupted between them and another group. However, the police managed to chase both the groups away. Meanwhile, a van proceeding to Vadakku Avarankadu was set on fire and a few vehicles were damaged. South Zone IG Rajesh Doss visited the spot.
A police officer said that 17 persons, including nine policemen, were injured in the incidents.
Due to the clash, the government function at Panchalankurichi was cancelled.