The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Violence hits life in south Tamil Nadu

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Friday, Apr 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Violence hits life in south Tamil Nadu

S. Vijay Kumar

Scores of TNSTC buses damaged, drivers injured

MADURAI: Normal life was affected in many parts of the southern districts on Thursday following a bandh called by the All India Forward Bloc to condemn desecration caused to freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar’s statue in Madurai.

Nearly 100 buses of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) were damaged as protestors hurled petrol bombs and stones. Five drivers were injured in violence in Madurai, forcing the TNSTC to suspend operations on many routes. Members of the public, mostly office-goers, were stranded at bus stands till late in the evening, police sources said.

Shopkeepers kept their shutters down for most part of the day fearing attacks.

More than 75 persons were taken into custody, some of them on specific charges of damaging public property.

Road blockade

AIFB State president Karthik, who resorted to a road blockade at the busy Goripalayam junction, was arrested along with his supporters, but they were released immediately.

Molotov cocktails were hurled at buses on Achampathu and Ring Road. After drivers attached to the Ponmeni, K. Pudur and Sholavandan depots were injured, TNSTC crew refused to operate services. This forced the authorities to send most of the buses to the shed. Services on a few routes were maintained with police escorts.

Incidents of stone throwing were also reported from Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli districts.

On the Madurai-Theni National Highway, where the windshields of more than 25 buses were broken, police personnel were deployed at vulnerable points. At Keelakuyilkudi, a mob installed a 10-foot statue of Thevar in the heart of the village.

Deputy Inspector General of Police S.S. Krishnamurthy, Madurai Superintendent of Police T.S. Anbu, and revenue officials held discussions with the villagers. It was decided that the statue would remain covered and a decision on unveiling it would be taken later.

At Usilampatti, motorcycle-borne youths went around stoning buses. “We escorted several buses to their destinations. Police used mild force to disperse unruly mob at some places,” Mr. Anbu told The Hindu.

TNSTC (Madurai Division) Managing Director, N. Vijayarajan, said: “We will bear the medical expenses of the drivers who were injured. Had the police provided adequate security, we could have operated more buses. Since many business establishments were closed, the number of passengers came down. Normal services will be restored by Thursday evening.”A woman officer was injured when a mob stoned a highway patrol vehicle at Nagamalai Pudukottai. Police said a group blocked traffic on the National Highway, demanding the release of those arrested for violence. When a police team led by Sub Inspector Jayasudha arrived, they threw stones on the vehicle, damaging the rear windshield. She was taken to hospital.

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