A 65-year-old fisherman was hacked to death by a group of over 20 persons at the cyclone warning shelter in Sonankuppam coastal hamlet here on Tuesday.
The victim was identified as K. Panjanathan, AIADMK 37th ward secretary and resident of Sonankuppam. The police said a row between fishermen of Sonankuppam and Devanampattinam led to the incident.
According to the police, trouble had been brewing between fishermen of the two villages over fishing in the seas off the Cuddalore coast. With the ban on fishing in force, a group from Sonankuppam set sail in small motor boats for fishing.
Argument over net
They were fishing close to the coast when another group of fishermen from Devanamapttinam picked up an argument with them over the use of purse seine nets. This led to protests from fishermen of Sonankuppam. The two groups indulged in a verbal duel and returned to the shore.
Around 9 a.m., Panjanathan was mending his fishing nets at the cyclone warning shelter. A group of over 20 fishermen from Devanampattinam armed with iron rods and sickles entered the village and assaulted Panjanathan, Pandian, 58, Muniammal, 45, and Irulayi, 46, and fled the scene.
Panjanathan was taken to the Cuddalore Government Hospital, where he died around 11.15 a.m. The injured are undergoing treatment. A huge posse of police personnel has been deployed in Sonankuppam.
Meanwhile, the Cuddalore police have launched a search for Arumugam, Kandan, Surendar, Osaimani and 15 others from Devanampattinam in connection with the murder. A case has been registered under Sections 294, 302, 307, 323 and 324 of the IPC.
