Goonda gangs clash in Alappuzha, several injured

Kochi: Two goonda gangs allegedly clashed during a temple festival at Thrikkunnapuzha in Alappuzha on Saturday night, leaving several persons injured.According to Thrikkunnapuzha police, a gang of 10 engaged in an argument with Vishnu Sathyan (33), of Haripad, and friends on Saturday. The argument occurred at KTDC beer parlour in Thrikkunnapuzha. Later, the gang attacked Sathyan and his friends around 12.30am on Sunday near a temple where a festival was going on. The attack took place at Pulikeezhu junction on Thrikkunnapuzha-Karthikappally road.According to the FIR, the gang hit Sathyan on the head with a piece of wood and also hit his friends, Arun and others. Sathyan sustained a fracture to his arm and severe head injuries in the attack.Meanwhile, sources said the attack was due to a clash between two gangs. In the melee, someone pointed an air pistol at the gang, leading to a brawl. Nearly 10 persons were injured and at least two sustained serious wounds, police said.Thrikkunnapuzha police said two persons — Mannarshala Mahesh and Praveen Prasannan, identified as leaders of the respective gangs — were taken into preventive custody. Efforts are under way to identify others involved in the clash, police said.