Six hacked to death in clash

Chennai, Aug 14 (UNI) Six people were hacked to death and an equal number injured in a clash between two communities at Tenkasi in southern Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu today.

A top police official told UNI over phone that the killings were in response to the murder of Hindu Munnani leader Kumarapandiyan in December last year.

Members of the rival group, hailing from another community and involved in the December killing, had come to the police station in connection with bail conditions, when they were attacked by Kumarapandiyan's brother and his supporters.

This followed a clash between the two groups which attacked each other with lethal weapons. Four people were killed on the spot while two died at hospital, where the injured were also admitted.

Tension prevailed in Tenkasi following the killings forcing shopkeepers to down their shutters.

Three people were killed in both groups, the official said.

Police pickets were posted in Tenkasi to prevent any further flare up. Senior police officials, including South Zone IG Sanjeev Kumar and Tirunelveli Range DIG P Kannappan were camping at the spot.

''It was an act of revenge against the killing of the Hindu Munnani leader'', the official said.

UNI