A clash between two groups of youth snowballed into a communal clash in Cheyyar of Tiruvannamalai district, resulting in the death of a 33-year-old man belonging to the Scheduled Caste community.
Venkatesan, his brother Adi Kesavan and three others belonging to Puliarambakkam sustained injuries after a group of youths belonging to Chellaperumbulimedu attacked them on Sunday. Venkatesan was rushed to the government hospital at Kancheepuram and was referred to Chengalpet. He was then referred to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, where he succumbed to injuries, a revenue official said.
It all started when two groups of youths – SC and Vanniyars – belonging to Puliarambakkam and Chellaperumbulimedu in Cheyyar fought while playing cricket. Police said the fight was over a love affair.
Later, residents of Puliarambakkam spotted two boys from Chellaperumbulimedu in the area. They nabbed one of them and handed him over to Cheyyar police. However, police let him go. Soon, a group of youth from Chellaperumbulimedu went to Puliarambakkam and ransacked several houses and assaulted the residents. They took away Venkatesan and Adi Kesavan and attacked them, before leaving them at a spot 15 km from the village. Venkatesan died while Adi Kesavan is undergoing treatment.
Nine persons were arrested and are on the lookout for others. R. Ponni, Superintendent of Police, Tiruvannamalai rushed to the village.
