Thursday October 5 2006
New Indian Express
CUDDALORE: As many as 11 women and an overhead tank operator were admitted to a hospital, after they drank the water mixed with pesticide in Songanchavadi village, near here on Wednesday.
Police said the miscreants from a neighbouring hamlet, who had previous enmity with the residents of Songanchavadi, had blended the pesticide in the overhead tank on Tuesday night. Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar, tashildar Prabakaran and DMK Legislator G Aiyappan visited the spot.
Speaking to this websites newspaper, former vice-president of Songanchavadi Venkatesan said that the functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and TASMAC outlet was the cause of the tussle between the residents in Poondiyankuppam and Songanachavadi.
A month ago, a PDS salesman found a duplicate ration card of a person in Poondiyankuppam. Objecting this, the Songanchavadi residents had demanded action against the culprit.
Angered over this, more than 50 youths from Poondiyankuppam had descended on Songanchavadi and assaulted the villagers with deadly weapons on September 26.
Many women and children had sustained injuries in the violent attack. Cuddalore Old Town police had registered a case, but failed to initiate action against them.
In an effort to wipe out the people in Songanchavadi, the residents of Poondiyankuppam had mixed pesticide in the water on Wednesday night.
Immediately after drinking the water, 11 women and a tank operator had developed nausea and swooned at the place. They were rushed to the government General Hospital. Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Service Personnel led by fireman, N Rajendran had drained the contaminated water out of the tank.
The affected were identified as tank operator Rajendran, Anusuya, Aboorvam, Vasuki, Sumathi, Sivasankari, Angayar Kanni, Rajeswari, Chithra, Uma, Anbazhagi of Sonaganchavadi and Mani and Anbazhagi of Vairankuppam. The condition of four persons, including Rajendran and Aboorvam remained critical.
Cuddalore Old Town police have registered a case, besides launching a hunt for the culprits.