Two Young Men Fatally Slashed During Temple Festival Dispute in Kancheepuram Village
Two residents of Padunelli were killed with sickles after a clash over song performances at a temple festival, prompting a police hunt for the attackers.
A cultural event at the Ponniamman temple in Padunelli village, near Kancheepuram, sparked a dispute over the performance of gana songs, pitting two factions of the same community against each other. Police officers arrived, calmed the situation and then withdrew from the area. In the early hours of the following day, Neelakandan, 25, and Chandru, 24, were sitting on a vacant plot when a group of unknown assailants approached and attacked them with sickles, causing fatal wounds.
The victims died on the spot and their bodies were taken to Chengalpattu Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem analysis. Villagers claim the killings might have been avoided with stronger police preventive measures. Law enforcement has stepped up patrols in Padunelli and is investigating the motive and identities of those responsible.
Why it matters
The killings highlight communal tension and raise concerns about police response during local festivals.
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