Tension gripped Andhra Pradesh's Marikavalasa-Thimmapuram Master Plan Road in Visakhapatnam on Thursday after a group of around 20 young people clashed, prompting police intervention and the detention of 17 persons. According to the police, the fight was triggered after a dispute between two students near Chandrampalem School.
What began as an argument later escalated after the youths formed two groups and allegedly confronted each other with sticks. Four people were reportedly attacked during the clash.
Police said some of them were suspected to have consumed alcohol before the incident. The situation became tense again later on Thursday night when some of those involved allegedly attempted to confront each other at Shivashakti Nagar on Thimmapuram Road.
"A case has been registered against six youths in connection with the incident. Three of them are majors, and three are minors. We are investigating the role of each person involved," CI Balakrishna said.
On receiving information about the renewed confrontation, police reached the spot. The young people reportedly fled after seeing the police.
Officers later traced and detained 17 of the 20 accused identified in connection with the incident.
Police have registered six cases and are examining CCTV footage, statements and other available evidence to establish the sequence of events and determine the individual roles of those involved. "Strict action will be taken against anyone involved in violence or attempts to disturb public order. We appeal to youngsters not to take the law into their own hands or settle personal disputes through violence," CI Balakrishna said.
Police are also verifying whether alcohol or drug consumption contributed to the escalation of the dispute and whether any additional persons were involved.
