6 held for clash in prayer hall

Police said that a group of men barged into the prayer hall and damaged chairs, windows and assaulted the conveners at Perianaickenpalayam on Saturday when a pre-Christmas meet was under way.

Led by some BJP cadre, locals besieged the place. Suddenly, a quarrel broke out and snowballed into a clash between two groups. On receiving information, rural police rushed to the spot and arrested Sasi Kumar, Selvam, Chandrasekar and Kavitha. Pastors Vinod Kumar and Jayadev, who were part of New Life Prophetic Charitable Trust, were also booked for causing nuisance. Meanwhile, four persons, who suffered injuries in the clash, were admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital.

A group gathered at the Perianaickenpalayam police station demanding release of Vinod Kumar and Jayadev, but left after police held talks with them. Six months ago, the local Tahsildar ordered an enquiry as public then claimed that prayer meets were held without permission, causing noise pollution in the residential neighbourhood.