Seven persons including a 15-year-old boy were injured following a group clash during a temple festival near Kapisthalam in Thanjavur district.

According to sources, a group of localites started shouting, disturbing others, during a special pooja, in view of Aavani Sunday, at the Mariamman temple at Manalur village yesterday. Some devotees objected to it. Subsequently, a quarrel broke out and it later ended in a clash. Both groups resorted to stone-pelting in which seven persons were injured.

Of them, Ramachandran (40) was admitted to the Medical College Hospital in Thanjavur, while six others – Sundarrajan (50), Sakthivel (15), Marimuthu (38), Angamuthu (70), Murugesan (40) and Parthiban (22) were admitted to the Government Hospital in Ayyampettai.

On information, Superintendent of Police J. Mahesh rushed to the spot and held talks with the two groups and restored normalcy. A large posse of police has been deployed to prevent any untoward incidents.