Unofficial sources however put the toll higher. Seven persons have been admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital with serious injuries. Of them the condition of five is said to be critical.

Violence was said to be continuing when reports last came in. A man and a woman were killed in last night's firing in Tiruppulani village, 10 km from here that sparked off the large scale violence in which over 50 shops, mostly those belonging to a minority community were said to have been damaged in arson and stone pelting. Numerous persons including policemen sustained severe injuries following the clashes, it is said.

Even as tension was mounting in the district, members of Thevar Federation led by State presidentShanmugiah Pandiah continued with their plan for a rally and meeting which was reportedly attended by over 6,000 persons.

Over 2,000 policemen have been deployed in the district.

The entire district has been cut off from the rest of the State with hooligans belonging to both the communities blocking the road at vantage points in the peripheries of the district including Paramakudi, Mudukalathoor, Sikkal and Chattirakudi and causing heavy damage to numerous vehicles.

One person was killed in a clash between two groups belonging to the two communities at Tandhai area.

Additional police reinforcements were being rushed from Madurai and Coimbatore. Security has also been beefed up in Madurai in sensitive areas as a precautionary measure.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi tonight appealed for calm and charged some forces with trying to foment caste clashes for `selfish ends' and warned of stern action against perpetrators of violence.

Meanwhile, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha today demanded the DMK governmenthand over to the Army, the responsibility of protecting the people in view of the `recurring' caste violence in the state.

Referring to the police firing in Ramanathapuram district, she condemned Karunanidhi for his `failure' to prevent recurrence of caste and communal clashes.

``The people are terribly frightened by the continuing police firings and even before total deterioration of the law and order situation sets in, the Karunanidhi regime should hand over the responsibility of protecting the people to the Army,'' she said in a statement here.

People in the southern districts had themselves said only the Army could protect their lives and property, she claimed.