PUDUCHERRY: Tension prevailed at Thirubhuvanai Industrial Estate junction and the adjoining areas following the alleged assault on a section of people by activists of the Puthiya Jananayaga Thozhilalar Munnani, on Tuesday evening.
Police said five persons — Panneerselvam (26), Padmanabhan (34), Stalin (36), Raja (32) and Lakshmana Perumal (38) — who were injured in the incident, were rushed to hospital.
Sources said about 150 workers of the labour union gathered at the rice mill in Sanyasikuppam near Thirubhuvanai PIPDIC Industrial Estate junction to take part in a rally, when a group of persons questioned them over the posters put up at various places about contract labourers of industrial units in the area.
A clash ensued in which five persons were injured. Police intervened and arrested 20 persons in this connection.
Later, the activists marched to the Thirubhuvanai police station seeking release of those arrested. Police then resorted to a lathicharge to disperse the workers.
However, the group later staged a road blockade on the Puducherry-Villupuram Road. Senior police officials reached the spot and persuaded them to call off the stir.
Police registered cases against labour union activist Sankar of Kalitheerthalkuppam and 19 others under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323, 324, 147, 148 of the IPC. Cases were also registered against Satish and 33 others belonging to the labour union under Section 151 (unlawful assembly) of IPC. Additional police force was posted in the area. There was no untoward incident on Wednesday.