Police book case, arrest protesters for damaging public properties

Ramanathapuram district police have booked and arrested protesters here on Tuesday for damaging public properties during a protest that broke out in areas of Chathirakudi on Monday night.

On Monday, a clash erupted between members of two communities – Mukkulathor and Devendra Kula Vellalar – owing to placing photo board of their community leaders at Ilamanur near Ilayangudi in Sivaganga district. 

The clash that took shape as stone pelting between the two groups resulted in injuring five men and two police personnel.  

Following this, members of the Devendra Kula Vellalar community staged a road blockade demanding the arrest of the attackers and permission to re-erect the board. District Superintendent of Police G. Chandeesh and Sivaganga SP R. Shiva Prasad, along with other revenue officials, held talks with the protesters. They eventually detained a few individuals from the other side and granted permission to re-erect the board.   

As this angered the members of Mukkalathor community, they resorted to a road blockade demanding the immediate release of those detained by the police and removal of the board.  

When the situation escalated, over 300 police personnel were deployed, and Ramanathapuram Range DIG Pa. Moorthy arrived at the location to overview the situation.   

As the news spread to other villages, subsequently, members of the Devendra Kula Vellalar community in Chathirakudi and Paramakudi jumped into protest at night demanding justice for those attacked and permission to re-erect the community leader’s photo board.  

Police sources said, protesters at Chathirakudi while staging a road blockade on National Highway jumped into violence by breaking the windshields and windows of two Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) buses and three cars that were passing on the NH.  

As three cases were registered in Chathirakudi Police Station regarding the property damage, seven suspects were arrested and three special teams were formed to arrest the remaining accused, said a press statement of the district police.  

“All necessary steps have been taken to prevent any further untoward incidents, and stringent action will be taken against those who spread rumours or any message on social media which will disrupt public peace,” it added.

In Sivaganga district, over the attack against the members of Devendra Kula Vellalar and damage to their community leader photo board, the district police have booked 115 individuals belonging to the caste Hindu community under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.