SANKARANKOIL: Six policemen, including three sub-inspectors, were injured when members of two communities clashed during a temple festival in bypoll-bound Sankarankoil in Tirunelveli district on Tuesday night. Ten persons among the two groups were also injured.According to police, some huts were set on fire and vehicles damaged as mobs went on a rampage after a group of people allegedly desecrated a place of worship at Gandhi Nagar area around 8.30pm when a temple procession was underway. This enraged a section of the people, who retaliated by pelting stones at those participating in the procession. Soon, the two groups were involved in pitched battles, forcing the police to intervene.The Fire and Rescue Service personnel rushed to the spot to douse the flames, which had engulfed the huts and other properties.Three sub-inspectors — Chokalingam, Sudha and Rajagopalan — and as many other police personnel sustained injuries when they attempted to control the crowd. Police said petrol bombs were also hurled during the clash. Additional police force was sent to the spot and order was restored after teargas shells were fired. A senior officer said around 500 police personnel were deployed at Sankarankoil and the situation was under control.
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