By IANS,
Chennai : At least 30 people were arrested Wednesday following clashes between two armed groups having allegiance to the ruling and the opposition political parties over a prime piece of property in a northern suburb here, the police said.
Conflicting claims over 3.5 acres of prime land in Red Hills north of here led to the clash in which over a dozen people sustained minor injuries late Tuesday.
The arrested include “Gym” Karuna of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam along with eight of his supporters and 21 supporters of an All India Anna DMK leader Muniyandi, official sources told IANS.
Trouble arose when a former AIADMK leader pitched tents over the land proclaiming it “Dr Ambedkar Manram”. He tried to sell it to real estate speculators to which a ruling party supporter Karuna staked a rival claim a few days ago.
Karuna’s supporters allegedly forcibly stopped the car owned by Muniyandi’s brother Tuesday night and apparently took away valuables and Rs.250,000 cash after smashing the vehicle’s windscreen.
Those arrested were charged with rioting and attempt to murder, police sources added.
Karuna’s boss, “Vellai” Ravi, a criminal, was shot dead in a police shoot-out a few months ago.