Police on Monday arrested 39 persons belonging to two communities after a clash left several injured when Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader John Pandian was scheduled to hoist party flags in Agaramangudi in Thanjavur district a day earlier. Heavy police reinforcements have been stationed in the region to prevent any aggravation.
Eyewitnesses said Mr. John Pandian’s supporters were putting up flex boards and posters at the Agaramangudi village square welcoming their leader who was to hoist party flags late on Sunday evening when section of villagers opposed it.
Soon the situation turned nasty and the warring groups resorted to stone pelting and some rained blows on the other group even as Mr. John Pandian arrived in the village.
In the melee, his convoy was targeted and the windscreen of a car belonging to his lieutenant Tyaga Kamaraj was damaged. Mr. John Pandian’s supporters resorted to a road roko protesting the attack.
Some miscreants set two bikes on fire while more than a dozen houses were attacked. A police vehicle and a private mini lorry were also damaged. Additional police reinforcements were called in. Superintendent of Police G. Dharmarajan urged the two groups to disperse but the protesters did not relent, forcing the police to lathicharge. The police escorted Mr. John Pandian out of the conflict zone to Thanjavur and arranged for the injured to be taken to hospital.
Inspector-General of Police, Central Zone, Ramasubramani, visited the village and inquired into the circumstances leading to the attack. Ayyampet police registered a case and have picked up 39 persons belonging to two communities from Agaramangudi and its periphery.
The village and its neighbourhood remained tense despite the presence of a huge police posse drawn from Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukkottai districts.
Posters put up to welcome John Pandian provokes villagers
