Scuffle between refugees, cops leaves many injured

The 60th year function of Sahayamatha church, inside the refugee camp was conducted on Saturday evening and at the end there was a dance programme. During the programme, some of the youngsters in the camp had danced for the songs.

When policemen objected to this, a fight had erupted and the youngsters threw stones and liquor bottles at the policemen. 

In the incident, SSI Marivel had sustained injuries on his head. Three more policemen, who has also sustained injuries, were rushed to Rameswaram GH for treatment. Similarly, some of the refugees sustained injuries in the lathi charge. Police vehicles were damaged in the incident. 

Refugees claimed that though several of them had sustained they were not admitted to the hospital because of the fear of getting arrested and hence they remained inside their houses. 

A refugee, Vasuki, said that several people who were not linked to the incident were arrested by police. Her husband and son who were sleeping in the house were abused and picked up by the police. 

However, police claimed that they had secured four men from a single family and are investigating the incident. Mandapam police had booked a case and the security had been tightened around the camp.