A wordy duel over the right of way between two communities triggered violence and resulted in the death of a person, arson and damage to public and private property at Thiruchopuram and Thiagavalli near here on Friday.
Police sources said that 14 persons were injured, one hut was set on fire, three tiled houses were damaged, and the windscreens of a transport corporation bus and a mini bus were broken.
The police sources said that in view of the Masi Magam festivities about 300 residents of the Kambalimedu colony took out a procession of the local deity to Periyakuppam via Thiruchopuram.
As the procession was proceeding to the destination on road, two persons belonging to another community riding a motorcycle argued with them to give them way. Irked, members of the procession manhandled the duo.
The relatives of the victims at Thiagavalli received information about the assault. While the festive-makers were returning after the celebrations, those in Thiagavalli blocked them and attacked them.
In the melee, about a dozen persons were injured and later one of the injured, A.Subramani (30) of Kambalimedu, died in the Cuddalore headquarters government hospital. A transport corporation bus too suffered heavy damage.
As retaliation, the Kambalimedu residents allegedly set ablaze a hut, caused extensive damage to three tiled houses, inflicted physical injuries on a man and a woman and damaged a mini bus at Thiruchopuram.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Villupuram range) Pon Manickavel and Superintendent of Police (Cuddalore) Ashwin Kotnis, along with a strong contingent of police force, reached the spot. Heavy police bandobust has been provided at both the places.
