Violence rocked Parali Pudur village, 13 km from here, on Sunday night following a clash between caste Hindu and Dalit groups.
Houses and two-wheelers were burnt, goats killed, and shops damaged in the violence. Roads were littered with bricks and stones after the clash. The violence spread to Vathipatti, the neighbouring village, and the Parali bypass road.
A group attacked several houses and shops, threw stones at buses and set two-wheelers and some houses on fire, police said. A Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus was damaged in stone pelting, 10 houses gutted, 10 motorcycles burnt and several houses damaged.
A gang set a goat shed on fire, killing a dozen goats.
Furniture and household items were also damaged in 23 houses.
Thatched shelters and shops were not spared. Another group attacked houses, a cycle stand and a tea shop at Vatthipatti and Parali bypass.
Theni Superintendent of Police V. Balakrishnan, DIG of Police (Dindigul Range) Sailesh Kumar Yadav and Inspector-General of Police (South Zone) S.S. Krishnamurthy inspected the area of disturbance. Sixty persons have been detained so far and eight cases registered against them.
The clash broke out when an unidentified gang allegedly garlanded the flag post of a caste group with footwear on Sunday night.
Condemning the “insult,” local people blocked Madurai-Natham road at Parali Pudur paralysing traffic for more than three hours.
The police resorted to mild lathi charge to clear the road of picketers on Sunday night.
Boulders and wooden logs were dumped on road sides. Sensing the tension, the police did not allow congregation of people.
Commissioner of Police (Madurai City) P. Balasubramanian, who was promoted as Inspector-General of Police and posted as IGP (South zone), also visited the spot.
Adequate police pickets have been posted.
