Man killed in clash

A man was killed and two were critically injured in a clash at Kommerahalli in Mandya taluk on Wednesday night. Both the victims and the accused were reportedly drunk and attacked one another with machetes, the Mandya Rural police said.

They identified the dead as Puttaraju (40). Raghu and Somu, who were severely injured, have been hospitalised.

Eight people were partying at an agricultural field on the outskirts of the village to ring in the New Year. A fight broke out among some of them over a trivial issue. Within minutes, they started attacking one another with machetes, the police said quoting the injured. The police are searching for the accused who have fled from the village.