Tirunelveli, (Tamil Nadu), March 3 Two people, including a migrant worker from Odisha, were allegedly hacked to death by a nine-member gang, and five others were injured in Nanguneri, police said.
The deceased were identified as John Mark (47), a resident of Perumpathu village, and 57-year-old Srinath Gadda, who hails from Odisha.
The injured, who are receiving treatment at the district government hospital, are A Nelson, P Prabhakaran, V Ramaswamy, A Ganesan, and S Sasikumar.
Police said the victims were at a tea shop on Monday night when the nine-member gang, traveling in three motorcycles, allegedly attacked them with a sickle and other weapons. As a result, John Mark and Gadda died on the spot.
Special teams have been formed to apprehend the culprits and to determine the reason for the attack, police said.
On Tuesday, local residents staged a road blockade, demanding the perpetrators be arrested.
Top police officials, including District Superintendent of Police Prasannakumar, met with the protesters and calmed them down.
Members of the public warned that they would boycott the upcoming election if the police did not arrest those involved. "We do not know what is the reason behind this incident... we demand that the police arrest the accused, or we will boycott the election," a resident said.
Following the incident, security has been increased in the area, with police personnel deployed in large numbers.
Meanwhile, the opposition AIADMK criticized the ruling DMK government over the incident, stating that it was a "major crime" that could not be accepted.
The AIADMK posted on social media on Tuesday, "two people tragically lost their lives, and five others are receiving treatment with grievous injuries."
"...this incident is a consequence of the negligent attitude of the DMK government," AIADMK alleged.
The party ridiculed the DMK government over the incident and asked whether the intention of the DMK government was to keep this region in a perpetual "state of tension."
"We urge the DMK government to take the most stringent legal action against all those involved in the incident," it said.
Actor-politician Vijay, leading TVK, expressed shock over the incident and criticized the ruling DMK government, stating, "In an administration that says it competes with the world, where is the guarantee for the lives of the general public?"
"Where is the DGP for Law and Order in the Police department?"
"It is certain that the DMK administration, which does not think about the welfare of people or their safety, will be removed in the upcoming assembly polls," the party alleged in a social media post.