Seven injured in clash between DMK, AIADMK, CPI(M) in polling

Madurai, Sep 18 (UNI) Seven people were injured in a clash between ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) volunteers with opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(AIADMK) and Communist Party of India(Marxist) CPI(M) cadres during polling for the 52nd ward of Madurai City Corporation, here today.

Police said polling for Teppakulam was necessitated, after the demise of P Ramu, a Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam( MDMK) functionary, who deserted the party after winning the last local bodies elections and joined DMK. Four persons, including V Malaisamy (DMK), P Malaisamy (AIADMK), Udaya Sooriyan (CPI(M) and an Independent candidate were in the fray.

The trouble started at 1500 hrs, following a rumour that DMK men were indulging in booth-capturing and bogus-voting at Sunnambu Kalavasal, prompting the AIADMK and CPM cadres to indulge in wordy duel with DMK workers. In the melee, unidentified miscreants damaged the car of 'Aruva Pandi', a local DMK functionary. Enraged over this, the DMK men attacked the AIADMK and CPI(M) volunteers, who retaliated with deadly weapons.

Soon after the violence, about 500 volunteers of CPI(M), led by its MP, P Mohan laid a seize to the Teppakulam police station, demanding action against the DMK men. The party alleged that the security did not take steps to contain the violence, though the police pacified the agitators.

Later, the CP(M) in a memorandum to the poll-observer Gopal IAS urged him for a repoll in the ward. The memorandum would be forwarded to the State Election Commissioner Chandrasekar for further action, Dr Gopal added. AIADMK, too, submitted a memorandum to the poll observer demanding re-polling in the ward.

Security has been tightened to prevent further trouble.

All the injured were admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital, here, police added.

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