india

Updated: Apr 20, 2019 00:10 IST

Tamil Nadu police have imposed section 144 on Friday in 30 villages in Ponnamaravathi block of Pudukkottai district after violence between two caste groups that broke out on Thursday. Section 144, when enforced, penalizes unlawful assembly of persons armed with weapons that may cause death.

Three policemen 15 locals were injured in stone-pelting in Ponnamaravathi town early Friday morning, when clashes broke out between two Other Backward Caste communities, the Mukkulathors and Mutharaiyars.

“It started when an audio clip leaked in social networks on Wednesday evening. In that clip, two Mukkulathor men made derogatory comments against Mutharaiyars women. In retaliation, Mutharaiyars cut down trees and vandalized shops in Ponnamaravathi town,” an inquiry officer said. Deputy Inspector General of Trichy region Vanitha Lakshmi and DIG Lokanathan of Thanjavur region tried to broker peace among communities on Thursday. “We will arrest the two accused who made objectionable comments,” Lakshmi assured them.