6 injured, including SP in violence during idol immersion in TN

Thanjavur, Sep 11 (UNI) At least six people, including Suprintendent of Police, Tiruvarur and two constables were injured, in the violence that marred the peaceful Vinayaga idol immersion procession in Muthupettai near here today.

Police said the Hindu Munnani activists were taking the Vinayaga idols, installed at 13 places including Jambuvanodai, Therkukadu, Vadakadu, Alangadu, Uppur, Sembadavankadu and Kovilur, in a procession from Jambuvanodai Sivan temple to immerse them in Koraiyar river.

When the procession was passing through New Mosque street, youths from the other community opposed it and raised slogans against idols being taken through the street where Muslims are predominant, triggering tension in the area.

A heavy posse of police under the direct supervision of Thanjavur range DIG Abhash Kumar had been deployed in the area to avert any untoward incident. Over 2000 police personnel, including SPs Amit Kumar Singh (Tiruvarur), P Sampath Kumar (Thanjavur) and Ashwin Kotnis (Nagapattinam) had been deployed there.

All of a sudden, some miscreants resorted to stone-pelting.

In the melee, three police personnel, including Tiruvarur SP Amit Kumar Singh and head constable Selvamani were injured.

As the situation was slipping out of hand, the police resorted to lathicharge to chase away the miscreants in which three people Mohamed Ibrahim (17), Humayun Kabir (47) and Mohamed Aliyar (43) were injured.

Police had a tough time bringing the situation under control.

Over 14 people were arrested so far.

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