12 hurt in clash between cadres in Chennai

Chennai: Twelve people were injured in a clash between AIADMK and DMDK members Thursday at the Chennai 12 zonal office in Alandur. The clash is believed to be a result of the DMDK members demanding better organised relief for flood victims in the city.The zonal office had organised a function to distribute duplicate ration cards to residents of ward 158 that had been hit by flash floods over the last two weeks and the local AIADMK MLA was also present.

 

At around 11 am, around 50 DMDK members arrived at the office to file a complaint claiming the government had done little to provide relief for the victims of the flood and demanded immediate action. Since the function had drawn to a close by then, AIADMK members were also leaving the building. The members of both parties started shouting slogans, which soon turned to abuses, with one of the members hurling footwear at the other group. Soon the fight turned violent with the groups taking flag poles from a hotel nearby and started beating each other up. 

 

In the clash between AIADMK and DMDK at the Chennai 12 zonal office in Alandur, ex-councillor and AIADMK member Manimegalai was badly injured and had to be rescued. The police soon arrived on the spot and dispersed the melee. 

 

Both parties proceeded to the St Thomas Mount police station to lodge a complaint against each other and another clash broke out inside the campus of the station. After calming the crowd, the AIADMK registered a complaint with the police against the DMDK members. 

 

According to the police, the DMDK had not requested for permission to enter the office in such large numbers as per the rule and therefore were likely to get prosecuted for the same. 

 

Other than Manimegalai, DMDK member Vijay Kamaraj sustained head injuries, constable Peter John and Sub Inspector Charles were also among the injured. The police have taken steps to prevent the group from clashing again.