Three government buses were stoned after a clash between groups of two political parties in a village near here late on Friday night.
Police said that two groups one owing allegiance to Samajwadi Party and the other belonging to Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) in Samalpatti village near Uthangarai were having mutual animosity for a long time.
Frequent clashes erupted between members of the groups five months ago in the village. A few persons were arrested at that time and normalcy returned to the village then.
On Friday, heated arguments erupted between the two groups again and both the groups rushed to the Samalpatti police station. At least 50 persons from each group lodged complaints against each other with the station. The police received their complaints, but did not register cases. However, the trouble did not end with this as a verbal altercation erupted again between both the groups when they reached the Samalpatti bus stop around 8 pm to board buses to their respective destinations. This triggered tension in the area and members of both the groups started hurling stones on government buses that were passing through Samalpatti. The front and rear windscreens of three buses operated by Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation (TNSTC) were damaged in the stone-throwing incident. Following this, the TNSTC bus drivers lodged a complaint with the police.
The police, while dispersing the clashing groups at the bus stop, took 10 persons belonging to both the groups for enquiry. However no arrest has been made in this connection so far.
Meanwhile heavy security has been posted in Samalpatti region to prevent untoward incidents.