Three persons, including two Dalits, were injured in a clash that broke out during a temple festival in Kangeyanpettai village near here.
According to police, a fire-walk ritual was organised at the Mariammankoil in Kangeyanpettai as part of the annual festival on Monday night. After the ritual, devotees, who turned up for the event, left the spot.
It is said that one Sankar (28), a caste Hindu of Kukoor Agraharam, who also attended the festival, was riding his motorcycle amidst the crowd. As Sankar moved along the crowd on his bike, he kept on honking the horn which irritated the devotees. Angered by this, a few persons picked up an altercation with Sankar, which snowballed into a group clash.
Ko Ki Baskar (54) of Mariammankoil Street in Kangeyanpettai, a relative of Sankar, who tried to pacify the clashing groups, suffered injuries. Other devotees present in the vicinity rescued and rushed him to a private hospital in Kumbakonam.
On the other hand, T Kannadasan (20) and K Sakthi, from Railady Street in Kangeyanpettai, who were also injured, were admitted to the Kumbakonam GH.
Following a complaint from Sankar, Tiruvidaimarudur police registered a case under Sections 294 (b) (obscene words), 323 (causing voluntary hurt) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against Sakthi and Kannadasan.
The police have also registered another case based on a counter complaint lodged by T Kannadasan against Sankar, Ko Ki Baskar, Ravi, Salanayagam, Vedanayagam and Maruthanayagampillai.
They were all booked under sections 147 (rioting), 294 (b) (obscene words), 324 (causing hurt), 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) of IPC and under Sections of the SC, ST (prevention of atrocities) Act.
Condemning the attack on Sakthi and Kannadasan, the members of the BSP, led by one Rajavelu, tried to block the road at Thirubuvanam bazaar. A case was booked against Rajavelu for attempting to bl0ck traffic.