Tension gripped Kandalur village near Navalpattu on the city’s outskirts on Sunday night after a clash broke out between two groups during a kabbadi match, eventually leading to stone pelting and damage of three police vehicles.
Two persons, including a Head Constable, sustained injuries in the stone pelting at the village where a posse of police personnel have been deployed. Police sources said that a kabbadi match was organised at the village by one group with two teams of a same community playing the match. A few persons from another community came to Kandalur to witness the match during which a scuffle broke out between the two playing teams with respect to counting of points.
The group that came to witness the match reportedly interfered, leading to a clash in which logs were used. Upon receipt of information regarding the clash, the Inspector of Navalpattu police station rushed to the spot.
In the meantime, a group of people proceeded to the Navalpattu police station on a mini goods carrier to lodge a complaint. The Inspector stopped the vehicle midway and inquired the group which reportedly quarrelled with the police officer.
Upon noticing a crowd gathering at the spot, the Inspector immediately call for reinforcements. Police teams — one of them led by Inspector of BHEL police station, rushed to the spot. The sources said that even as the police held talks with the group, some of them reportedly pelted stones in which three police vehicles, including two SUVs, were damaged. One of the damaged vehicle belonged to the BHEL police inspector.
A Head Constable, who sustained injury in his hand in the stone pelting, was admitted to the Government Hospital in Tiruchi.
Consequent to this, pickets have been posted at all vital points in and around Kandalur to prevent escalation of violence.
A couple of companies from the Tamil Nadu Special Police have also been posted at the village. Cases were booked by the Navalpattu police on separate complaints including the one preferred by the BHEL Inspector, the sources said.
More than 20 persons were quizzed by the police in connection with the clash and stone pelting. Eight persons had been arrested so far, said the sources.
