16 injured in group clash

16 injured in group clash In a caste clash, 16 Dalits, including women, were injured when a mob, attacked them following a quarrel during Pongal festival celebration at Kuruvithurai near Sholavandan on Sunday night. The tiled roof of over a dozen houses were damaged, two huts set on fire and few vehicles damaged. The police said that while the Dalits were celebrating at Kuruvithurai, three persons, said to be under intoxication, from the nearby area picked up quarrel with the Dalit people. Having taken the trouble mongers under their captivity, the villagers called the village leaders, who let them go. Meanwhile, the police was informed about the incident. However, soon youths from the other side rushed to the Dalits’ hamlet with weapons and went on a rampage, Revenue Divisional Officer G. Senthilkumari, who inspected the spot, said. They also pelted stone on them. “The Dalits, who are a minority in strength in the locality, locked up themselves in their houses. Angered by this, the mob attacked their houses with logs and other weapons,” she said. In the melee, 16 persons were injured and they were admitted to Government Hospital in Sholavandan. Three of them were referred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai. Superintendent of Police Vijayendra Bidari was camping at the village. The police have were on the lookout for the perpetrators of the crime. A large posse of police had been deployed to prevent further untoward incidents.