9 hurt in Alanganallur group clash

MADURAI: Tension prevailed in Melachinnanampatti near Alanganallur here after nine people were injured during a clash between caste Hindus and Dalits on Saturday night. The police said, the two groups clashed over alleged demolition of flag post of a political party in the village.Based on complaints from the both sides, the Alanganallur police have registered case against 27 Dalits and 23 caste Hindus.  Of  these, 12 Gounders and nine Dalits have been arrested so far.All the injured - seven from the Gounder community and two Dalits - have been  hospitalised.According to the complaint by R Pitchaiamani, a Gounder, Mukundan, Sasikumar and 25 other Dalits threw stones and bottles at his house around 8 pm on Saturday and abused him.  During the attack, seven persons, including two women - Rani and Ranjani - were injured. A counter petition filed by a Dalit, K Natarajan, of the same village, said that a group of 23 people, including Kamesh and Rajesh of the Gounder community, demolished a flag post of a political party on Saturday.  They also attacked Perumal and Pazhaniammal,  two Dalits.  Two years ago, a case was registered after the two groups clashed for erecting a cut-out in the village. The case was still pending.  The hearing for the case was due on August 17. At this juncture, a new FIR has been filed against both the communities over Saturday’s  violence.Asra Garg, the SP, said that around 75 police personnel, including DSPs, inspectors and sub-inspectors, have been deployed in the village to keep the situation under control.