Coimbatore: In a serious development, when a section of the National media is pushing for sending back from Tamil Nadu the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who had fled the island in the wake of the 1983 ethnic riots as it is nearly eight years since the civil war ended there, four refugees including a woman inmate were stabbed in a fracas at the Alandurai Sri Lankan refugee camp in the suburbs of Coimbatore, on Monday night.
Police said that the trouble started in the camp with John, 25, a Tamil refugee lodged there, picked up a drunken brawl and allegedly abused some neighbours in the camp.
Raguvaran, 29, of the same camp had questioned his action and told him to remain calm, but John in an inebriated state picked up a quarrel with him and stabbed him with a knife, police said.
Hearing poor Raghuvaran's cries, his father Peethambaram, 60, came running to rescue him, but was also stabbed by John.
Two other Tamil refugees belonging to the same camp, Santharooban, 20, and Ms. Menaga, 32, who tried to rein in John, were also stabbed by him.
With all the four stab victims crying in pain, virtually the entire refugee camp members came out to their rescue, even as John by then had escaped from the spot.
Menaga is being treated in Pooluvapptty government hospital and the other three injured refugees were admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH).
On information, Alandurai police rushed to the refugee camp, registered a complaint and have launched a search for John who is believed to be on the run.
