Police fires in air to quell mob in Pondy

Puducherry, Oct 3: Tension prevailed at Seliyamedu village near here as two groups resorted to a clash and police opened fire in the air to quell the mob well past midnight on Monday night. According to police, trouble started following a wordy duel in a school cricket match which turned into a clash between two communities. A photograph of Ambedkar was damaged in the trouble. Protesting this, the people of Seliyamedu colony resorted to a road blockade demanding action against those who damaged the photo of Ambedkar. In the meantime, a group of people came to Aranganur and damaged a flag pole of PMK and pelted stones at a house. As the two groups gathered in strength, police held talks with them and asked them to disperse. However, they did not pay heed to the request of the police. People from Bahour and Seliyamedu gathered in support of the people of Seliyamedu colony and PMK cadres from Arnganur came in support of the Aranganur people. As they started pelting stones at each other, police opened two rounds of fire in the air to quell the mob. Following the firing, the mob started to disperse and the area was cleared by 0300 hrs today. Police registered cases against 113 persons each from both the sides. Armed police pickets have been posted in the area as it remained tense. UNI