Hamlets Clash over Shops' Rent for Church Fest

CHENNAI:At least four persons were injured in a clash, that stemmed out of sharing common funds and on enmity owing to having been barred from participating in the annual boat race, organized to celebrate DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi’s birthday, on Saturday.

The four were identified as Tamilarasan, Manimaran, Selvam and Velu. They were admitted to a private hospital in Adyar for treatment.

Police said that funds were raised by renting out the common land near the Annai Veilankanni Church in Besant Nagar where the annual flag hoisting took place on Saturday. The total money raised by renting out the space for petty shops that cropped up to tonsure heads, sell flowers, sell candles and other items was to the tune of `9 lakh, which was to be divided between the fisherfolk of Odai Managar and Odai Kuppam. However, the money was not shared as planned.

Meanwhile, four teams, two each from Odai Managar and Odai Kuppam were disqualified, as the thumb rule clearly stated that each of the 13 fishing hamlets along the East Coast road until Uthandi could field only one team in the race. A major clash was averted during the race, which took place at Injambakkam in ECR on Friday.

On Saturday morning, fisherfolk from both the hamlets ganged up against each other, which culminated in Odai Kuppam members raiding the other hamlet and damaging atleast a dozen bikes parked near Odai Managar besides destroying several houses.

Thiruvaminuyur Police rushed to the scene on information and prevented violence from escalating further.

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