JOIN USMore than 30 persons, including some police officials, were injured in a clash between two religious communities during a temple festival at Sankarankoil near here, police said.
Police used teargas shells and lathicharged to quell the clashing groups, which took place last evening after a place of worship of one relgious community was found to have been allegedly desecrated by a group from another religion, police said.
The incident occurred when members of a community, whose place of worship was desecrated, pelted stones, bottles and footwears at the other group who were coming in a procession. The two groups went on a rampage, setting fire to shops and thatched sheds in the area, police said.
However, the situation was now under control, police said, adding, more than 500 armed police have been posted at sensitive places. Twenty persons had been detained for questioning in connection with the incident, police said.
South Zone IG Rajesh Dass said he was monitoring the situation personally. One DSP, three Sub-inspectors, three Constables and 24 others were injured in the clash, he said.
Sankarankoil assembly constituency is set to hold a by-poll. The by-election was necessitated due to the death of AIADMK minister C Karuppasamy in October last.
Bus services to the town, which was stopped after the incident, had been resumed police said.