Madurai, Aug 3 (UNI) In a pitched battle at the District Collectorate premises between rival factions of a local Jamaat over the holding of an annual festival, a youth belonging to one group was injured and the scheduled peace committee meeting was abandoned today.

The injured, Nagoor Pitchai (30), was admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital and the assailant, Rai Kili alias Mohammed Ibrahim, was arrested.

The trouble started when some members of both the factions, gathered in front of the North Taluk Tahsildar office for the peace committee meet, started hurling verbal abuses.

Functionaries of the Jamaat in Goripalayam were engaged in discussions about holding the annual 'Sandanakoodu' festival at a dargah at Narimedu on August 14. Following objections from the former officer-bearers of the Jamaat, led by Mustaffa, a court verdict was secured to proceed with the festival.

Since the previous office-bearers continued to place hurdles, the District Collector directed to hold a peace committee meet to iron out the differences for the peaceful conduct of the festival.

North Tahsildar, Thulasi Shantaram, was not in his office due to official engagements and the peace committee meeting was not held.

Police restored normalcy in the collectorate campus following the group clash.

UNI