Key Political Leader in Tamil Nadu, Killed

(December, 17, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam, a ruling political party in Tamil Nadu local leader, another 5 party supportes were killed and 15 injured when a jeep carrying activists returning from Tirunelveli after a party youth meet collided with a Sabarimala pilgrims' van on Monday, according to sources in Chennai.

The mishap took place at Moopakoil near Kumbakonam at around 3 am, police said, reportes one of the Indian news agencies.

Four persons, including Thiagarajan (45), DMK local leader and president of Kadalangudi Panchayat, were killed on the spot, while another person died on way to hospital, the sources added.

The other deceased were Sudhakar (25), Muthupandi (25), Parthasarathy (50) and Balu (35), they said.

While eight persons were admitted to the Government Hospital in Kumbakonam, seven others were referred to the Medical College Hospital in Thanjavur.

The Kerala-bound van carried 13 Ayyappa devotees, while the jeep from Tirunelveli had seven DMK workers onboard. The casualties included from both the vehicles, police said.