In a group clash over getting the first honour (‘Muthal Mariyathai’) during a temple festival, a sports utility vehicle of former AIADMK MLA P. Ponnambalam was set on fire at Karuvanur in the M. Chatrapatti police station limits here on Saturday. Supporters of a DMK functionary also damaged a few motorbikes and household articles.
The police said that during the festival at the Pattatharasi Amman Paraikaruppu Ayyanar Temple, the first honour is given to people belonging to different communities. Among the Pallar community, it is given to Tirupathi, a supporter of DMK Karuvanur secretary Velmurugan. However, Palanikumar, the son-in-law of Mr. Ponnambalam, claimed the right. This led to a scuffle between supporters of Tirupathi and Palanikumar. The M. Chatrapatti police registered two cases on Thursday.
Both groups clashed around 9 p.m. on Saturday. A few were injured and treated as outpatients at Government Rajaji Hospital. Tirupathi and Vijay, a relative of Mr. Ponnambalam, sustained bleeding injuries and were admitted to the hospital.
