Coimbatore: Tension gripped the city after a Hindu Munnani functionary was assaulted with an iron rod by two unidentified men at Sundarapuram on Saturday night.
S Ramakrishnan, 36, of Thayammal Layout at Podanur, is the vice-president of the Ukkadam unit Hindu Munnani. Ramakrishnan is engaged in catering work.
When Ramakrishnan was returning home from Kempatti Colony on his motorcycle around 10.30pm on Saturday, two men waylaid him and assaulted him with an iron rod at Sundarapuram Junction. When some shopkeepers in the area came to rescue Ramakrishnan, the assailants escaped.
Ramakrishnan suffered injuries on his head and was admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH). Ramakrishnan received six stitches on his head. The Podanur police registered a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and formed a special team to nab the duo.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Hindu Munnani members gathered at the CMCH on Saturday night and demanded that police arrest the accused. Some Hindu Munnani cadres stopped three Muslim youths, who were returning home after watching a movie, on the CMCH premises suspecting them that they were spying on them. The cadres attacked the three Muslim youths and damaged their motorcycle.
Rahim, 40, of Kottaimedu, who was under the influence of alcohol, was also attacked by a group of Hindu Munnani cadres. The injured Muslim youth lodged a complaint with the Race Course police.
Following the incidents, more than 300 police personnel were deployed at various parts of the city to prevent untoward incidents.
On Sunday morning, Hindu Munnani announced that its members would besiege the district collectorate to demand the arrest of the accused. More than 50 police personnel from the Coimbatore city police and a team of Rapid Action Force (RAF) were deployed in front of the collectorate. The RAF brought a vehicle to use tear gas shells.
BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan visited Ramakrishnan in CMCH. She said the city police should act swiftly and arrest the accused for attempting to murder a Hindu Munnani functionary. Hindu Munnani state president Kadeswara C Subramaniam also visited Ramakrishnan.
Later, Kadeswara Subramaniam and Hindu Munnani leaders met city police commissioner S Davidson Devasirvatham. The police commissioner informed them that a police team has collected CCTV footage and is trying to arrest the accused.