MADURAI: Four dalit women were assaulted by a group of non-dalit men in Thodaneri village near Samayanallur in Madurai district on Tuesday after a petty quarrel snowballed.

A five-month-old infant was also injured when its mother was being attacked. The four women and the infant have been admitted to the government hospital with severe injuries. While the prime accused has surrendered, police have launched a hunt for two of his friends who allegedly assaulted the women.

Police said that Meenammal, 65, a non-dalit woman residing in North Street of Thodaneri village passed away on Tuesday morning and her grandson Ranjith, 27, was making arrangements for her cremation. “Ranjith, who was allegedly in an inebriated state was speeding through the dalit-populated Kaliamman Kovil street on his motorcycle. Palaniammal, a 70-year-old dalit woman, chided him for riding the bike on the narrow street at high speed. This infuriated Ranjith, who abused her in inappropriate words,” said the police officer. Palaniammal’s daughter-in-law Easwari who heard Ranjith using foul language, came to the rescue of the former and picked up a quarrel with him. Soon, women from neighbouring houses also joined Easwari, who allegedly slapped Ranjith.

Ranjith hurried from the place but returned with two of his friends identified as Vivek and Kumar. “According to the complaint, they started assaulting the women indiscriminately. They also pulled out wooden logs and beat the women,” police said. One of the women suffered a fracture on her hand.