Two groups clash over boat race on ECR
The event regulations allow only two teams from every fishing village to participate
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-08-30 06:13 GMT
Chennai: Tension prevailed at neighbouring fishing hamlets near Besant Nagar on Saturday morning after two factions clashed against each other. The two factions had a long standing dispute and it was fuelled further during an annual boat race event held at Injambakkam on East Coast Road on Friday, police said.
According to a police officer, the boat race event is conducted by DMK every year as part of their leader, M. Karunanidhi’s birthday celebrations. “Around 13 fishing hamlets along the ECR from Besant Nagar until Uthandi participate in the event every year,” the officer said.
The event regulations allow only two teams from every fishing village to participate. While, all villages fielded teams according to the rules, Odaima Nagar, Odai Kuppam areas fielded four teams and that was turned down by the organizers. The Odaima Nagar group was led by one Pandian while Veeran led the other group. They entered into an argument at the event on Friday after which organizers and other village heads intervened and pacified them.
On Saturday morning, the groups entered into an argument again in Odaima Nagar. The verbal duel soon escalated into a brawl and the groups started attacking each other with logs and also pelted stones at houses and damaged vehicles standing there.
Police teams rushed to the scene and were deployed there until evening to prevent any untoward incidents. Four persons suffered injuries and are being treated at a private hospital in Adyar, police said. Hunt is on for the gang leaders who instigated the attack, police said.