Ten people killed in separate incidents across Tamil Nadu on Diwali
The deaths, which include a police officer, have led opposition leaders to allege a collapse of law and order in the state.
At least 10 people, including a Special Sub-Inspector (SSI) of police, were killed in various violent incidents across Tamil Nadu from Sunday night to Monday, according to The Tribune.
In Theni, SSI Senthil Kumar, attached to the Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, was fatally attacked by a group of youth in Samadharmapuram. Police said the assault occurred after the officer advised the group not to burst firecrackers in the middle of the road and disrupt traffic. Three local persons have been arrested in connection with the attack, and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced a solatium of Rs 40 lakh for the officer's family.
In Tiruchirappalli district, two 17-year-old daily wage labourers, identified as Rahul and Vishal, were hacked to death by unidentified assailants near the Pullambadi canal. In a separate incident in the same district, a 20-year-old IT employee named Christopher was stabbed to death with an iron tool following an argument over firecrackers.
Other fatalities were reported in Cuddalore, where a history-sheeter named Prithiviraj was stabbed with a beer bottle during a clash with Arularasan. In Chennai's Vyasarpadi, an auto-rickshaw driver named Dhanush was hacked to death by a group of six people following an earlier enmity. In Sivaganga district, a 25-year-old man was beaten to death near Aruppukottai, and two other murders were reported.
Opposition leaders have criticised the state government. Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin of the DMK alleged a failure of administrative control, while AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami stated that the law and order situation has deteriorated.