Normality returned to Melapalayam on Tuesday after the police released on bail four youths, who were arrested on Monday evening.
The police had registered case against S. Roshan (34), A. Maideen (39), S. Usama (20) and K. Howbathullah (28), all from Melapalayam, under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting and armed with deadly weapon), 294 (B) (uttering obscene words at public place), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) for an alleged scuffle with a police Sub-Inspector.
Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath administrative committee president M. Shamsul Luha and his son, Mr. Usama, were injured when a cargo auto knocked down the motorbike they were riding on Monday evening.
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Subsequently, the driver, Murugan, was allegedly attacked by a group of TNTJ supporters.
The SI, Abubucker, who was present near the accident spot with the police team , intervened and took Mr. Murugan to the police station after warning the attackers.
When they allegedly attacked the driver again, they were chased away by the police and the four were subsequently picked up by the police even as they were inside Masjid-Ur-Rahman near Melapalayam police station.
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The TNTJ cadres alleged that the police team entered the mosque without removing the shoes, beat up five persons and took them for interrogation.
While one of them was released later, the remaining were kept at the Melapalayam station, which triggered tension with a few hundred Muslim youths gathering in front of the mosque.
Talks held
After prolonged talks held by Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli city (In-Charge), S. Murugan and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Tirunelveli city, T.P. Suresh Kumar, with the TNTJ representatives, the four were released around midnight on Monday after case was registered against them.
Four youths arrested on Monday evening released on bail