Munnani man attacked, Pudukai tense

According to sources, G Muruganandam (29), Alangudi Town president of Hindu Munnani, was running a flex banner shop in the town. On Sunday, when Muruganandam was in the shop, a seven-member gang suddenly barged into the shop and assaulted him and his father, Ganesan, before fleeing the spot.

The injured Muruganandam and his father Ganesan were rushed to Alangudi Government Hospital from where they were shifted to Pudukkottai Medical College Hospital. Later, they were admitted to a private hospital in Thanjavur.

On getting information about the attack, supporters of Muruganandam and Hindu Munnani office bearers blamed a Muslim group for the attack and went on a rampage stoning the shops of Muslims during the early hours on Monday. They also reportedly pelted stones at a mosque in the bazaar, which escalated the situation.

The Hindu Munnani cadre also took out a rally on more than 100 bikes demanding the arrest of the culprits behind the attack.

Shops downed shutters and there was a thin flow of vehicles in and around Alangudi during the day on Monday.

Following the information, a team of around 200 police personnel, led by DIG (Tiruchy Range) Balakrishnan and Pudukkottai SP Selvaraj, rushed to the spot and dispersed the rioters. The police then registered a case against Mohammed Ghani, Mohammed Niyaz, Abdul Rahman, Abbas, Ganesan and Manikandan, all from Alangudi, on charges of assault. The police also booked cases against Rajesh Kannan, Jayaram, Vigneswaran and Siva for ransacking shops.

Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports claiming that a person identified as Mustafa was one among the gang that attacked the father-son duo started doing the rounds. Following this, a group of unidentified persons stopped the bus in which Mustafa was travelling at Vamban area and launched a deadly attack on him. On information, police rushed to the spot, rescued Mustafa and sent him to Pudukkottai Medical College Hospital, where he was said to be battling for life.

Sensing further unrest in the region, security has been beefed up in the entire Alangudi area and SP Selvaraj is personally monitoring the situation.

On Monday evening, the police arrested Mohammed Ghani and Mohammed Riyas. The duo was being interrogated. Meanwhile, the Hindu Munnani leaders have decided to stage a protest on Tuesday.