A clash broke out between groups at Pasumbalur village in the district on Sunday night in which a thatched house was set on fire and a few other houses and shops were stoned in the spat leading to tension.
Police personnel were deployed, including those from the Tamil Nadu Special Police, at Pasumbalur to avert any fresh outbreak of clash between the warring groups.
Use of a vacant government land measuring nearly 18 cents in the village was the bone of contention between the two groups for over 30 years now, police sources said. Cases were registered earlier under the Code of Criminal Procedure at V. Kalathur police station and the issue was investigated by the Revenue Divisional Officer.
Amid this scenario, the installation of a banner at the vacant site by the people of the village belonging to one of the groups sparked trouble, the sources said.
A band of persons belonging to another group allegedly set afire the thatched house of R. Kalian besides causing damage to other houses and abusing them.
On a complaint from Kalian who stated that his house was gutted and the household articles kept inside were destroyed, the V. Kalathur police booked a case against 20 people under various IPC sections and under the SC / ST Amendment Ordinance Act, 2014 besides under the Public Property (Prevention of Damages and Loss) Act, 1992.
The sources said R. Kandasamy belonging to the other group of the same village had complained that the rival group damaged some houses of his companions by pelting stones besides setting afire a thatched shed.
The V. Kalathur police booked a case against 15 persons on a complaint from Kandasamy under various IPC sections and under the Public Property (Prevention of Damages and Loss) Act, 1992. Superintendent of Police Sonal Chandra inspected the village and conducted inquiries.
Thatched house set on fire and houses stoned
The fight is over a piece of government land
