Ramu, a 45‑year‑old farmer from Keelkarapattu, was struck on the chest by a rod during a clash at a Ganesh Chaturthi procession in Cuddalore district on Wednesday, June 2, and died before reaching the hospital.
The incident follows the death of Srinivasan in Chennai’s Venkateshwara Nagar on June 1, where a man was hit in the chest after a dispute over a procession route.
Both villages had transported Ganesh idols in mini‑trucks to Devanampattinam beach. An argument broke out on the sands, forcing the groups to retreat to their villages.
During a meeting in Keelkarapattu to discuss the dispute, Ramu tried to separate the fighting parties while holding a rod. The rod was snatched from him and swung back, causing fatal injuries.
Senior police officer S. K. Ramesh told NDTV that the clash was not a pre‑planned murder but an escalation of a physical conflict. Police are conducting a post‑mortem at Panruti Government Hospital and are identifying suspects.
Local residents report that the village square remains tense after Ramu’s funeral, with families fearing further clashes. Police will brief security officials on Thursday to decide on additional measures.