S Sudhakar, a resident of Kittankudisai village in Vaniyambadi taluk climbed a papaya tree holding a sharp knife in his mouth, police said
"Accidentally, he fell down from the tree and the knife in his mouth cut off his tongue and this is what he has told doctors at the Adukkamparai government hospital," Police Sub-inspector, Jolarpet, G Anandakrishnan told PTI.
Indicating that there were some inconsistencies in Sudhakar's statement that needed to be reconciled, the police official said the reason for the incident was under scanner.
A senior police official did not wish to be named said that "some local inputs indicated a group fight among certain individuals and Sudhakar's tongue getting cut off looks like its outcome."
However, a probe was on and nothing could be said conclusively now, he added.