Youth attacked in clash succumbs to injuries, 4 in hosp

Madurai: A 22-year-old youth, who suffered injuries in an attack by a 15-member group, died in a hospital on Monday. Three more people who were injured in the incident that took place on Sunday, are undergoing treatment in hospital.

The deceased was identified as S Rambu of A Kovilpatti village near Nathapatti in Madurai district. The injured were identified as P Subash, 19, and P Thangaiah, 30, from Kodukkampatti, R Dhivakar, 19, from Kachirayanpatti. While the deceased and injured belong to an intermediate caste, the attackers hailed from a scheduled caste community.

Police sources said that both the accused and the injured were under the influence of alcohol. The attack took place on Sunday afternoon at Kodukkampatti due to a sudden provocation between the two groups.

Rambu and his friends visited Kodukkampatti village, where his relatives reside, to attend a temple festival. They went to a shop located in the scheduled caste people’s residential area. As they sped through the locality on a two-wheeler, a group of people from the scheduled caste community warned them against rash riding in their area. This resulted in a heated argument.

A group of around 15 people the attacked the four using wooden logs and stones, which left them badly injured. Rambu, who suffered grievous injuries, was first taken to a hospital in Singampunari, from where he was referred to the Government Rajaji Hospital, where he died on Monday. The relatives of the victim and the injured staged a protest at Panagal Road in front of the GRH. While an autopsy was conducted, the relatives refused to receive the body.

Meanwhile, the Keelavalavu police registered a case under various sections of the IPC including 302- punishment for murder. While 15 people including 10 unnamed have been booked, M Ravichandran, 19, B Kalyanasundaram, 27, Natchiappan,34, T Thirumavalavan and K Kalanjiyam from Kodukkampatti have been picked up for inquiry.

A large posse of police have been deployed in villages around Melur to prevent caste-based clash and reduce tension in the village, where the incident took place. South Zone IG K P Shanmuga Rajeswaran and deputy inspector general of police (Madurai range) Pradip Kumar visited the village and took stock of situation. Madurai district superintendent of police was camped at Melur.